WEST Mercia Police have launched a paw-some competition to name three future police dogs.

The force's economic crime unit is launching a competition for primary school children with youngsters in Worcestershire invited to help name a new batch of police dogs.

School children aged under 12 years can enter the competition, with a chance to win a visit to the dog section at police headquarters, at Hindlip, Worcestershire, to meet the dogs and receive a winner’s certificate and photograph.

Three new dogs, which will be trained to search for cash and illegal drugs, are being purchased using funds which the Economic Crime Unit has taken from criminals.

Detective Inspector Emma Wright, from the force's economic crime unit, said: “We are pleased the funds our team have worked hard to remove from criminals will now go towards buying these three new police dogs, who will help us fight crime.

"The competition is a great way to show how we use the funds recovered from crime and for local children to get involved and understand the work our police dogs do to support officers. We hope children will get involved and come up with some creative names for our new police pups.”

The first two dogs will come from the litter pictured, born on Sunday June 20.

Mum, Midge, and the pups are all doing well and the first two pups will join the police in about eight weeks time.

 

Pic - West Mercia Police

Pic - West Mercia Police

The third dog will come from another litter, expected in the next couple of weeks.

Anyone interested in entering the competition can send three suggestions to digitalcommunications@westmercia.pnn.police.uk by the closing date of Tuesday August 31.

Parents should include the child's name, age and school along with the reason for the names chosen, plus the name and telephone number for a parent or guardian, who can be contacted if the entry wins.

The winner or winners will be selected by the Dog Section after this date.

The lucky child or children will then be invited to police headquarters to visit the dogs and receive their certificates in September.

Inspector Lloyd Cresswell, from the force's dog training unit, said, “The training team are really excited to receive this support to fund the next set of new drug and cash search dogs. I know the competition winners will have a fantastic day meeting the puppies and their four-legged colleagues at police headquarters. Very best of luck to all the children who enter.”