TWO South Yorkshire\u00a0police dogs and their handlers won\u00a0first and second place at the British Police and Services Canine Association (BPSCA) 25th service dog trials in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
PD Rocky with PC Steve Gill; and PD Evo with PC Adrian Noble, from South Yorkshire Police and Humberside\u2019s Joint Specialist Operation Unit (JSOU)\u00a0claimed the\u00a0top two spots for the \u2018Service Dog of the Year\u2019 award.<\/p>\n
The foursome also bagged two further awards while at the trials, with Rocky and PC Gill winning the criminal work category as well as being runner up as Service Dog of the Year. Evo and PC Noble also took third place in the property search category.<\/p>\n
JSOU Superintendent Caroline Rollitt said: \u201cThese trials incorporated representatives not just from the police service, but from the prisons, security teams and the armed forces. To take first and second place with two of our dogs and handlers is an incredible achievement and I am extremely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
The BPSCA is an organisation comprising serving and ex-serving officers from the United Kingdom\u2019s uniformed services who are, or have been, the handlers and trainers of service dogs.<\/p>\n
All 43 police forces in England and Wales, as well as Police Scotland, Prison Service Northern Ireland, HM Armed Forces, HM Prisons, UK Border Force and representatives from all other agencies who use service dogs as well as BPSCA members, can enter the trials and compete in friendly rivalry to be top dog.<\/p>\n
The trials were held at West Midland\u2019s Police HQ in Tally Ho, Edgbaston in Birmingham last month.<\/p>\n