New technology helping to keep police dogs safe

For years, police dogs have been used to search unknown environments, relying on training and instinct to indicate whether there may be a threat.

To help keep them safe, we are rolling out new technology which gives handlers a clearer picture of what the dog is seeing in real time. 

This helps improve decision making during searches and supports both officer and dog safety.

Our Firearms Support Dogs (FSD) have shared how the new Axon Body 4 cameras are working in practice. 

FSDs are currently using the live streaming capability, helping officers during searches for suspects, missing people and other high-risk situations where understanding the environment quickly can make a real difference. 

But getting to this point took some creativity.

There was no ready-made solution available that met operational needs, so officers began adapting and testing their own harness design. 

Using an existing tracking harness as the starting point, the team modified it through trial and error until they created something that worked safely and practically in operational settings.

Dog handler PC Craig Neeson said: “There wasn’t anything on the market that did what we needed it to do. Some of the military-style options were very expensive, so we worked with what we had and kept refining it until it was fit for purpose.”

The result is a working solution that allows handlers to remain focused on controlling and supporting the dog while also being able to live stream what the dog sees to their hand-held mobility devices.

This work forms part of the wider roll out of Axon Body 4 cameras capability across the force, alongside continued investment in technology policing, safety and investigations. 

Watch a video on the new cameras here - (2) AB4 Dog Cam Video - YouTube