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04 June 2022, 9:34am
Media Release

New explosive detection dogs deployed to sniff out crime

Editor’s note: Images of graduating dogs and puppies available via Hightail.

Five new AFP canines and their handlers have graduated from a grueling explosives detection course and are set to deploy around the country, leaving no bone unturned in the fight against crime.

The new crime fighting duos are being posted to Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth to further enhance existing canine capabilities.

Instructor Glen Kemp said while the course was mentally and physically demanding, the five new handlers had persevered despite the difficulties.

“This course teaches the technical elements needed to make a great canine handler but the participants need to have a good work ethic, along with the passion, patience and dedication to see it through,” Mr Kemp said.

“These handlers had that and then some and they should be very proud of their achievements so far.”

The extensive 13-week course run by the National Canine Operations Centre in Canberra will ensure the dogs and handlers are pup-ared to detect a range of military and commercial grade explosives, including firearms in a variety of operational environments.

The AFP’s canine capability has also been bolstered with the arrival of eight new Labrador puppies from the Australian Border Force’s (ABF) Detector Dog Breeding Program.

ABF Tactical Capability Commander Lauren Richardson said the Labrador puppies are representative of the high calibre of canine the ABF Detector Dog Program produces.

“Our dogs are renowned not only here in Australia through their deployment to our agency partners like the AFP, but also around the world. This is testament to the important work the ABF does in breeding, developing and training our dogs,” Commander Richardson said.

“These dogs perform critical roles by executing highly technical work, and we look forward to the continued success we can achieve through collaboration between ABF and AFP.”

The puppies are set to commence training with their foster families before going on to complete their formal training, which will prepare them to go out on the beat as a federal agent.

“We are excited to welcome these new puppies who are settling in well with their foster families before they are old enough to undertake their training in either firearms and explosives or currency and drugs,” Mr Kemp said.

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