Commentary
| Date | 01 July 1963 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6303600701 |
| Published date | 01 July 1963 |
| Subject Matter | Commentary |
THE
POU(;E
JOURNAL
VOL.
XXXVI,
No.7
fJOMMENTARY
JULY
1963
Police Dogs
The recent publication by H.M. Stationery Office
of
Police Dogs:
Training and Care, under the auspices of the Standing Advisory
Committee on Dogs and with a preface by its chairman, Commander
W. J. A. Willis, C.B.E., M.V.O., C.G.M., R.N. (Retd.), one
of H.M. Inspectors
of
Constabulary, marks the secure place which
dogs and their handlers have won in nearly all force establishments.
Even where a force has no dogs
of
its own, arrangements exist
whereby at need they can be borrowed from a neighbour. Good
results are reported from all areas, rural, urban and industrial alike,
and experience bears out that these comparatively new members of
the Service amply justify their cost.
A good example of the use of dogs in a city of composite character
can be seen in Oxford, with its population of over 100,000 and its
triple status as University, county town and industrial centre. The
force, which is 218 strong, has a section of four handlers and dogs.
The work is varied: patrolling parks, open spaces, the grounds of
colleges and other establishments, attending to complaints of theft
and dealing with other allegations and suspicions. The results of
their activities, in making arrests and answering emergency calls,·
are most creditable. Both handlers and dogs are benefiting from a
diversity of training courses
and
trials; the award of " excellent"
and other gradings in national competitions speak for themselves.
The Chief Constable pays tribute in his annual report to the morale
and
efficiency of the section.
Witnesses
The recent letters to The Times in which correspondents have com-
plained of excessive waits in dismal court precincts before being
called to give evidence cannot
but
be
of
interest to police officers:
the witness is a very important person. Even though the cases in
question were explained by the chief clerk,
and
one
of
his colleagues
wrote to point
out
that there is no analogy between witnesses attend-
ing court and patients seeking medical attention, the fact remains
that
many people called as witnesses are left with a sense
of
griev-
ance or hardship on account
of
the time consumed.
July 1963 310
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