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Dog SectionDog Section: The police dog as we know it today, has only been in existence in this country since about the end of the Second World War. However, from as early as the 15th century, dogs have been used for policing in some form or another. To begin with they provided little more than companionship and protection for the old parish constables on their long, lonely beats. Usually hunting dogs such as Airedales were employed or even Bloodhounds for tracking down criminals. The earliest record of dogs being used was in Surrey Constabulary during the First World War. A prisoner of war camp had been established at Frith Hill, Frimley and although most inmates were quite happy to sit out the War there, from time to time some thought it their duty to escape. The surrounding countryside was ideal cover for the escapees. To assist in searching for them the police at Camberley obtained three Bloodhounds for the purposes of tracking. Kennelled at Camberley Police Station and handled by Sgt. Kenward and his assistant Pc Pink they were used several times with some success but were discontinued after the war. No more dogs were used in Surrey until 1933 when the then head of C.I.D. Superintendent Tom Roberts, persuaded the Chief Constable to allow Pc Potter who was stationed at Ash and kept Bloodhounds which he trained as a hobby to use them for Police work. The Bloodhounds worked with Pc Potter for five years not just within the Surrey Constabulary area, but also to assist Hampshire and Buckinghamshire occasionally. They proved quire successful, particularly in finding clues at the scenes of crimes including missing persons and retrieving discarded stolen property.After the war there was renewed interest in the use of dogs. Thorough research and extensive enquires were carried out and it was decided that the German method of training dogs for police work was the right way forward. The Chief Constable Mr Joseph Simpson knew of a Metropolitan Police Officer, Dc Harry Darbyshire, who had great experience of the training and breeding of dogs by this method. Harry Darbyshire was offered a transfer to the Surrey Constabulary in the rank of Sergeant. He accepted and joined Surrey on 8th February 1948 bringing with him his own German Shepherd dog, Anna of Avondale. Anna was an ex German war dog no. 1758x1. Corporal Ken Bailey of the Parachute Regiment captured her near Ashwerin, Germany in 1945. Only a few weeks later Sgt Darbyshire and Anna were called to their first job, a burglary at the Co-op in Hersham. Within minutes of arriving Anna had tracked from the scene and located the burglar hiding under a hedge in a garden. Anna continued in service until she died in August 1950. Due to this early success other Officers were recruited and trained as dog handlers within the Surrey Constabulary. To this day serving dogs and handlers compete annually for a trophy named in tribute to the first Surrey Police Dog (Anna of Avondale Trophy). Since those early days Surrey became known as a 'centre of excellence' in dog training and through the support given by Chief Constables such as Joseph Simpson and Peter Matthews, it went from strength to strength becoming a dog training centre, under the auspices of HOSAC, that has become known nationally and internationally. It has not only produced training of a high standard but also it has developed many specialist skills for dog and handler as well as breeding good quality police dogs. It has, rightly, a past to be proud of in the field of police dog work. Surrey's first police dog 'Anna'. When do we start work then? 1950's Dog Section at HQ. Sgt. Harry Derbyshire Which way did he go? Sgt's. Redwood & Wood & PC Juniper Lucy's Family 1 AND .. Lucy's Family 2 Click on Fred Booker's photo to read his fascinating account of his time on the Dog Section 1979 - Denis Turner Click on Timber Wood's photo to read his recollections of his time on the Dog Section + more photos Surrey Constabulary 'For those who served' 1851 - 1992 Editor: Robert Bartlett. Website Design & Maintenance: Denis Turner. This website was created using MAGIX Website Maker You will need the current version of Adobe Flash Player to view it. Further information can be found at magix.info - the Multimedia Knowledge Community by MAGIX, the market leader for music, photo, and video software. |