The Isle of Wight’s hardworking police dogs are being celebrated this International Dog Day for the vital role they play in keeping the community safe – with local handler Sergeant Charlie Winchester highlighting the incredible contribution of the canine unit.
Part of the Joint Operations Unit (JOU), the police dogs support both Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, taking on a variety of tasks including suspect tracking, drug and weapon detection, and searching for missing people.
Since April, the unit’s dogs have helped sniff out more than £23,000 in cash, uncovered drugs including heroin, cocaine and cannabis, located 5 knives, a machete and a hammer, and found 2 missing people – all in under 6 months.
Among those leading the team is Sergeant Charlie Winchester, a local dog handler who works closely with several of the dogs on the Isle of Wight. He has said:
“Our police dogs are more than just working animals, they are highly skilled, dedicated members of our team.
“We’re incredibly proud of their expertise and the invaluable contributions they make across both forces. Their commitment, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty truly make a difference in policing, and today, we celebrate everything they do to help keep communities safe.”
Earlier this month, General Purpose Dog Echo was deployed to track a suspect who had fled into a graveyard on the Isle of Wight. PD Echo led his handler through thick shrubland and over a wall, eventually locating the man hidden in a dense nettle bush. The suspect was arrested and later charged with criminal damage, assault by beating, and harassment without violence.
In another incident on the Isle of Wight, a suspect who fled the scene of a road traffic collision was tracked and arrested for drink driving thanks to the efforts of one of the unit’s dogs.
The JOU dogs are trained across a range of specialisms:
- General Purpose Dogs handle public order, suspect pursuit, and property searches
- Drug Detection Dogs locate hidden substances, firearms, and cash
- People Scanning Dogs patrol clubs and busy town centres for concealed drugs
- Explosive Detection Dogs protect major events and dignitary visits
- Digital Detection Dogs sniff out hidden electronics used in serious crimes
- Victim Detection Dogs are used on land and in water, helping locate missing persons or crime-related items
Explosive detection dogs have been recently deployed to events on the Isle of Wight, including the Isle of Wight Festival and Princess Anne’s visit, as well as Sail GP in Portsmouth.
The Joint Operations Unit continues to rely on its four-legged officers to support both everyday policing and high-priority investigations. Their work is not only operationally vital but also serves as a powerful deterrent against crime.
International Dog Day is held annually on 26th August.
Well done dogs and handlers, training is amazing. My father had a friend in this service and his German Shepherd dog was so well trained it would lay out under the table at Sunday lunch and there was no room for our feet!