Senior Constable Wayne McNamara with Salem, whose sense of smell is often Victoria Police’s best weapon for catching criminals at night.THOSE doggoned criminals ought to think twice after the Victoria Police Dog Squad released its latest arrest figures.
The clever canines and their police handlers have helped arrest more than 230 people over the last 12 months in Melbourne’s south-east.
Crooks in Casey have been nabbed on several occasions by the dog squad, which has been targeting crime in Police Region Five.
Greater Dandenong, Cardinia, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Morwell and Bairnsdale municipalities have also been focussed upon.
Since January 2007, six police officers from the Victoria Police Dog Squad have been based at Springvale Police Station.
During this time, the squad has attended 1377 incidents, including complaints of intruders on premises, break and entering offences, sexual assaults, homicides, searches for missing people, armed robberies and burglaries.
The Dog Squad also provides a physical police presence at unruly parties and brawls, where they assist local police in dispersing crowds.
The Dog Squad works in partnership with local divisional intelligence units to target areas where offences are occurring most, including train stations, shopping centres, unattended schools and commercial and industrial areas.
All dogs are fully trained in tracking, searching, protecting life and property and their sense of smell is more than fifty times greater than that of humans.
Dog Squad Sergeant Glenn Barrot said the skilled canines played an important part in operational policing.
“In an age of technology, none of the various physical devices have yet duplicated the natural instincts and abilities of a dog to track human scent or detect hidden persons or property,” Sgt Barrot said.
“Dogs can often crawl or jump on to places where it would be impractical or impossible for police members to go.”
Sgt Barrot said being based at Springvale allowed the Dog Squad to promptly respond to incidents in Region Five and had resulted in a significant number of arrests and charges.
He said the greatest demand for dogs is at night, when a dog’s acute sense of smell is most needed.
“All of the jobs we attend are time critical, especially in relation to tracking. The dogs need to track the most recent human scent.
“By basing us here in Springvale, the response time is now greatly reduced and we can quickly respond to incidents.
“Our presence in Region Five has had a significant impact on crime and public behaviour in the local area, with the Dog Squad contributing to more than 235 arrests in 2007 and attending 1377 incidents,” Sgt Barrot said.
Sergeant Barrot said the Dog Squad was now looking for new dogs to continue the vital work of the unit and replace those that have passed on or are no longer able to perform.
“We’re looking for pure-bred German Shepherds or Rottweilers aged between 12 months to two years,” he said.
If you think you have a suitable dog, please visit the Victoria Police website at www.police.vic.gov.au or contact the Dog Squad on 9333 1300.
