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BRAVE POLICE DOGS IN THE LINE OF FIRE
(Cutting London Local by Kingston 16/2/01)
New Malden police station may be still closed to the public, but it is not to dogs.
Since September it has been the home of the Mets No 4 dog unit and houses 14 dogs, one of whom, Monty, aged four, was stabbed last week while protecting his handler, PC Stewart Judd, during an attempted armed robbery.
And after the building internal structure is radically altered in May, 45 dogs and their handlers will be stationed at the building opposite the Fountain Roundabout.
The unit, one of only four in the capital, covers an area stretching from Hounslow and Twickenham in the north west, south to Sutton and Wimbledon and as far into London as Notting Hill and Chelsea.
Sergeant Alun Jenkins, a dog handler himself, told the Comet that last July he and his dog Boz took part in the search for tragic Sarah Payne in West Sussex. PC Stewart Judd and Monty were also in the team
Sergeant Jenkins said the Whitton incident was very serious but something every dog and handler may have to face. He said: Its part and parcel of a very physical job. Fortunately, incidents like it are very few and far between but police officers could face such a situation any day. He was very fortunate. It could have been a lot worse.
Police dogs undergo rigorous training. When they are a year old, they take part in a 12-month training course. The dogs are then licensed but this is renewed annually, when the dogs are checked for safety, control and efficiency.
During the 12-week course, the dogs learn a range of skills including how to find missing people, children and confused hospital patients who have wandered out of the grounds, plus how to retrieve lost or stolen property.
Sgt Jenkins said: Its not just criminals. The dogs are taught how to chase and detain criminals fleeing, defend themselves and their handlers and detain them by taking hold of their right arm.
Key skills for the dogs are obedience and agility how to jump over walls, streams and fences. The most important element is the close bond formed between a dog and its handler. Sergeant Jenkins said: The dog wants to work for his handler. They love being with us.
Apart from basic training, the dogs can specialise in three areas: q human remains detection. q firearms recovery special searches for weapons like guns. Dogs can have cameras strapped to them. q firearms support working with firearms teams to look for people.
Gun dogs (not stationed at New Malden) are trained to look for explosives, arms and narcotics. These can also be labradors or spaniels. At the start of each shift, dogs and their handlers are assigned to particular areas. They patrol, either in vans or on foot if required, and offer 24-hour support to colleagues across the area.
Outside working hours, they live with their handlers and their families as the family pet. Sgt Jenkins said: Our job doesn't finish at the end of the working day. The kennels have to be cleaned out and the dogs have to be exercised and groomed daily. The dogs love it, and it helps form the close bond. The dogs find the training enjoyable. It builds up their natural skills. Were not teaching dogs anything alien. The dogs love to come to work everyday.
Monty, who was specifically bred to be a police dog and was born at the Met Police dog school in Keston, Kent, received a two-inch wound in his neck during a police chase in Whitton last week. Although Monty appeared to be doing well he had a relapse at the weekend and, on vets orders, must undergo a months rest. His neck muscles were damaged and he has a drain inserted in his neck.
Sgt Alan Jenkins, said the attack on Monty was the most serious handled by the New Malden dog unit so far. He said: Its the first occasion where the dog was deliberately injured. While PC Judd was not injured himself, he was treated for shock.
Sgt Jenkins said: There was a job to be done and he (PC Judd) did it well. Its all in the line of duty. The shock sets in afterwards. Monty was severely affected by the stabbing. He said: He would have been traumatised by the incident, and after his rest will have to return to the very, very early stages of training to build up his confidence again. Monty is a very calm, very steady dog.
Some people have the perception that police dogs have to be raving lunatics but they're very calm, they're certainly not pushovers. Monty displayed extreme courage. He was protecting his handler. There is no question of his being a dangerous dog now. Monty is being looked after at home by PC Judd
The New Malden dog unit would like to hear from owners of German Shepherd dogs, Weimaraners or Rottweilers, between 12-14 months who may have become difficult for their owners to handle. Ring 020 8247 5525./cutting ends
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