Dog trackers nose best

THOSE doggoned criminals ought to think twice before committing another offence now that the Victoria Police Dog Squad is based in Springvale.
The new base of operations has helped the clever canines and their police handlers arrest more than 230 people over the last 12 months in Melbourne’s south-east.
Since January 2007, six police officers from the Victoria Police Dog Squad have been based at Springvale Police Station.
They have been targeting crime in Police Region Five, which encompasses Greater Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Morwell and Bairnsdale.
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 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 which are prone to crime 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 50 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 onto 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 and two years,” he said.
Anyone who thinks they have a dog which would be suitable for police work is asked to visit the Victoria Police website at www.police.vic.gov.au or contact the Dog Squad on 9333 1300.