They are the four-legged friends helping keep our county's streets safe. From sniffing out drugs to finding missing jewellery, the dogs unit at Gloucestershire Police is something to behold. Here, we profile some of the amazing dogs that do incredible things.
BEAR
Breed: German shepherd
Age: Not entirely sure because I was a stray
Handler: Sergeant Geoff Blindell
Type: General purpose police dog
Responsibilities: I have the same responsibilities as the other GP dogs – but as my dad is the Sarge I have to act as an example to the other dog squad members.
Lives: With Sgt Blindell at home.
Family history: I was a rescue dog from a preloved site so don't know much about them.
Twitter account: @PD1179Bear – I have nearly 4,000 followers.
Proudest moment: I was able to help give closure to a family after finding a man who had committed suicide.
BEN
Breed: Cross between a black labrador and a springer spaniel
Age: Two-and-a-half years old
Handler: PC Mark Avery
Type: Specialty search dog - used to find drugs, cash and ammunition
Best asset: I have the size of a springer spaniel and the nose of a labrador which makes me an excellent tracking dog.
Lives: At home with PC Avery
Background: I am a rescue dog from Teckels Animal Sanctuary right here in Gloucestershire - this gives me a bit of an advantage as it means I know the area quite well already.
Favourite snack: Hmmm that's a hard one - to be honest I love all food but obviously as working dogs we aren't allowed that many treats. We have to keep ourselves trim in order to do the work - you can't track very well if you're too heavy and get out of breath easily. I also have to stay small enough to fit into those small areas where criminals try to hide drugs and other illegal substances.
MAX
Breed: German shepherd
Age: Six years old
Handler: PC Janson Wong
Type: General purpose police dog
Responsibilities: Tracking offenders, attending firearm incidents and incidents involving knives. I'm also trained to bite an offender and attend all public order incidents as well as searching a building or land for an offender or missing person.
Lives: With PC Wong at home.
Has been with the police: Five years.
My story: I am good friends with new puppy recruit PD Radar – he's still a youngster but I've taken him under my wing to try and show him the ropes.
Best moment: I was able to find this man's van keys twice after he had been hit by thieves, saving him thousands of pounds to get them replaced.
RADAR
Breed: German shepherd
Age: 23 weeks old – yes I'm the baby of the group!
Handler: PC Claire Todd
Type: General purpose police dog – I've been trained to track, bite, find missing people and attend public order and firearms incidents
Favourite food: Sardines
Lives: With PC Todd at her home
Best friend: PD Duke – he's like an older brother to me and in September I will be taking over from him in field when he hangs up his paws and retires. I'm a bit nervous because those are some very big paws to fill – literally and metaphorically – but we have the same mum and I know that with her training I will be able to help just as many people as Duke has during his time with the dog squad. I haven't been with the force very long – about 12 weeks – but I am really loving the work and all my new four and two legged friends have been very welcoming.
Most looking forward to: Catching bad guys!
MARLEY
Breed: Springer spaniel
Age: Two-and-a-half years old
Handler: PC Janson Wong
Type: Proactive search dog
Lives: With PC Wong at home.
Thing you should know about me: I have so much energy and am always running around at 100 miles an hour.
Favourite thing: My red ball – it is the best and I know if I did a good job at work I'll be able to play with it later.
Nickname: Zorro – because I have marks around my eyes which looks like a mask, also because I help fight for justice for those who can't do it themselves as part of the dog squad.
Originally from: I came from a family in Essex. They were lovely but I just had too much energy for them and knew I had a greater calling.
Proudest moment: To be honest I can't think of just one – I am finding things every day so it's hard to pinpoint just one moment.
ACE
Breed: German shepherd
Age: Five-and-a-half years old
Handler: PC Richard Hunt
Type: General purpose police dog
Responsibilities: Tracking offenders, attending firearm incidents and incidents involving knives. Ace, like all the other GP dogs, is also trained to bite an offender and he also attends all public order incidents and searching a building or land for an offender or missing person.
Paw and teeth size: All the better to track down criminals with.
Lives: With PC Hunt at home.
Been with the police since: Age three.
Family history: I come from a long line of police dogs so it's in my blood to capture the bad guys.
Proudest moment: I rescued an elderly lady from the Forest of Dean who had gone missing from her home. It was 2am in -10C weather and I managed to track her and find her in time.
HOLLY
Breed: Springer/Staffie cross
Age: Seven
Handler: PC Richard Hunt
Type: Drugs dog – used to find drugs, cash and ammunition
Nickname: Holly the somersaulting dog (because I can do somersaults).
Paw size: Small, but all the better to get into the tight places where criminals think to hide illegal things.
Lives: With PC Hunt at his home.
My story: Been with the police since I was 12 months old. I was too boisterous for my family but they found me a great home with Gloucestershire police and the dog squad.
Proudest moment: I was able to find a piece of jewellery which was very important to this lady – she was so pleased.
Sadly Holly had to cut the interview short to carry out a drugs warrant in Cheltenham.
STELLA
Breed: Staffordshire bull terrier
Age: Two years old
Handler: PC Claire Todd
Type: Drugs dog – used to find drugs, cash and ammunition
Paw size: Small – she's only a puppy
Lives: With PC Todd at her home – her bed is outside in a kennel.
Hobbies: Stopping criminals and playing with her favourite ball.
The one thing she wants you to know about her: Not all Staffies are bad dogs. Sadly they get a lot of bad attention in the press but most of us are safe, loving animals. Like my human companions, it's the way you treat an animal that makes them either good or bad. My human Claire is wonderful to me so I will always do my best for her.
Best arrest: Thanks to my super dog senses I was able to find a stash of cocaine which some human had thought they could hide in a secret pocket in their van seat.
