Dogsey

Pupils from a North Wales secondary school were recently given the opportunity to meet a sniffer dog. Patch, a Labrador Border Collie cross, visited Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay - the first school in Conwy to invite a sniffer dog as part of the Personal and Social Education Programme – to demonstrate the search process and give an insight into the work of Wagtail UK Limited.

Patch is from Wagtail UK Limited, a company which provides specialist detection dogs, some of whom work in partnership with North Wales Police. The dogs can detect items such as drugs, tobacco, explosives and bodies, and do conservation work.

PC Meirion Williams said that the visit: “Provided a positive approach between North Wales Police and Ysgol y Creuddyn in order to safeguard children from the negative stereotyping of young people that so often occurs.”

As Patch sniffed along a line of volunteers for a child who had agreed to hide illegal drugs in a pocket, specialist dog handler Helen Evans explained that the dogs are trained to identify anyone carrying illegal drugs but would not indicate on prescription medicine.

The head teacher of the school, Meirion Davies, said: “This was an extremely interesting demonstration of the capabilities of these highly trained dogs. The pupils of all ages thoroughly enjoyed it and the question and answer sessions proved to be very instructive. We would like to express our thanks to PC Williams and North Wales Police for arranging the event.”