KEEN police dogs more used to chasing down criminals are now on the hunt for something different: new places to train.

Dog handlers from the specialist Tri-Force group are looking for unusual locations where their dogs can practice sniffing out hidden drugs and stashed explosives.

In a plea posted on the Wiltshire Police website, they said: “We are looking for new venues within Wiltshire to train our police dogs. Do you know of any empty or disused buildings for our firearms support/general purpose German Shepherd police dogs?" 

Raising the prospect of sniffer dogs hunting around busy office-workers, Tri-Force added: “Do you know of any office complexes, large houses, colleges, stadiums for our drugs or explosives search dogs? These dogs can happily search safely around people, so these premises do not need to be empty like the ones required for our German Shepherds.

“It is really important for the development of our police dogs that they receive training in realistic venues to prepare them for operational duties.”

If you have a building or site that you think would be suitable as a training location, contact Ian Partington, dog training manager, by emailing: ian.partington@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk.