A NEW canine crime fighter will join Wiltshire Police this week, after being rescued from a life of neglect.

Staffordshire bull terrier Boris will graduate search dog training school today and begin his new life sniffing out drugs, arms and currency with Wiltshire, Avon & Somerset and Gloucestershire police forces.

In March, two-year-old Boris was rescued by an RSPCA inspector after he was found living in cramped conditions with other dogs and suffering from a severe skin condition.

He was taken to the RSPCA’s West Hatch Animal Centre, near Taunton, where he was spotted by dog trainer PC Lee Webb.

It was soon realised he had a nose for crime.

A supervisor at the centre said: “All the dogs in our care are special in their own way, but I just knew the minute I saw Boris that he was going to stand out from the crowd.

“The trainer at the police force, PC Lee Webb, was in the centre the day Boris arrived and I jokingly pointed out that we may have just taken on his next search dog - I couldn’t have been more spot on.

“Boris was a friendly, lovely boy and very confident from the start - he’s just so brilliant with people and other dogs.

“I noticed quite quickly that he had a real love for tennis balls, he absolutely lives for them. Most dogs get bored after a while but Boris was really focused - he found the ball when I hid it, even in some rather difficult places like up trees.

"That was when I knew for sure he would make a great police search dog.

“I’m delighted that Boris is going on to be an important member of the local police force.

PC Webb said: “He was first spotted about three months ago and started training properly five weeks ago, but as of this week he will become a fully licensed police sniffer dog.

"Good police dogs need to have an above average ability to retrieve, great stamina, good health and an even temperament.

"This is why Staffies work so well as they have a dogged determination and a drive to retrieve but are also very loyal and eager to please.

"Boris is a great dog who has worked really hard and I know he will have a great career ahead of him.

"I'm pleased to support the less traditional breeds of police sniffer dogs and to raise awareness of staffies as a breed."

Boris will be the fifth rescue Staffordshire bull terrier from the RSPCA’s West Hatch animal centre to join the police force.