A NEWLY-QUALIFIED police dog has had a successful start to his career, contributing to the arrests of two men.

Two suspected criminals were "collared" after the police dog tracked them through fields and farmland.

In the early hours of Sunday, June 27, a red Nissan X-Trail was being pursued by Kent Police before it entered Sussex.

Sussex officers assisted and located the vehicle abandoned in Buckholt Lane, Bexhill, with a motocross bike which was thought to be stolen in the back.

PC Toby Spires, of the Surrey and Sussex Dog Unit, deployed PD Tsar, who indicated that the suspects had fled over a gate and across a field.

This was further evidenced by two distinct sets of footprints in the grass.

Despite numerous distractions, PD Tsar led his handler over a fence line and through a hole that had been created in the foliage of the bordering woodland.

He then continued onto a farm track, where the two suspects were detained and arrested by assisting officers.

Two men aged 20 and 21, both from St Leonards, were arrested on suspicion of multiple offences and are being processed by Kent Police.

PD Tsar is a 16-month-old German Shepherd general purpose dog who was licensed only last month.

PC Spires said: "Since he was assigned to me in December, PD Tsar has impressed me from day one with his drive and determination.

"He's a young dog still and has been a handful, but he's gaining confidence every day with training and live jobs."

A police dog is a dog that is specifically trained to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel.

Their duties can include:

  • Searching for drugs and explosives.
  • Locating missing people.
  • Finding crime scene evidence.

There are more than 2,500 police dogs employed among the various police forces in the UK, with the Belgian Malinois as the most popular breed for general purpose work.