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Eddie,
Eugene Zapata,
FBI,
Keela,
Madeleine McCann,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime
Cadaver Dogs Unreliable According to Gerry McCann
Labels:
Eddie,
Eugene Zapata,
FBI,
Keela,
Madeleine McCann,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime
How police dog earns more than top officer
How police dog earns more than top officer
31 December 2005
Huddersfield Examiner
Neil Atkinson
Police sniffer dog Keela found vital clues in the high-profile case of Surrey stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls (left).
The springer spaniel is also pictured with South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes
ONE of the country's top police dogs earns more in a day than the South Yorkshire Chief Constable, it emerged today.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country, including working on the high-profile stabbing of Abigail Witchalls in Surrey.
Keela is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses. If she worked every day of the year, she would earn almost £200,000 - about £70,000 more than her force's chief constable.
Forces worldwide have expressed interest in her specialist training and Keela will be travelling to America in the new year to help the FBI with two murder inquiries.
A South Yorkshire force spokeswoman said Keela - officially a crime scene investigation dog - has saved more then £200,000 nationally since April this year, helping with investigations in Ireland, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey and the Thames Valley.
Her handler, Pc Martin Grime, has been responsible for training Keela, along with National Search Adviser Mark Harrison, since June last year.
Then the eight-week-old puppy, who was bred by West Midlands Police, became the centre of an experiment to see whether she could be trained to work as part of the team.
Unlike ordinary police dogs, Keela has never taken part in the usual six-week training course but has been trained, bit by bit, by Pc Grime every day.
Her programme involved training her to ignore decomposing body materials, other than human blood.
And instead of barking when she smells blood, she has been trained to have a 'passive' alert - freezing, with her nose as near to the subject matter as possible without touching it.
This enables scientists to recover the sample quickly and efficiently - saving time and money.
Continue Reading...
31 December 2005
Huddersfield Examiner
Neil Atkinson
Police sniffer dog Keela found vital clues in the high-profile case of Surrey stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls (left).
The springer spaniel is also pictured with South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes
ONE of the country's top police dogs earns more in a day than the South Yorkshire Chief Constable, it emerged today.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country, including working on the high-profile stabbing of Abigail Witchalls in Surrey.
Keela is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses. If she worked every day of the year, she would earn almost £200,000 - about £70,000 more than her force's chief constable.
Forces worldwide have expressed interest in her specialist training and Keela will be travelling to America in the new year to help the FBI with two murder inquiries.
A South Yorkshire force spokeswoman said Keela - officially a crime scene investigation dog - has saved more then £200,000 nationally since April this year, helping with investigations in Ireland, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey and the Thames Valley.
Her handler, Pc Martin Grime, has been responsible for training Keela, along with National Search Adviser Mark Harrison, since June last year.
Then the eight-week-old puppy, who was bred by West Midlands Police, became the centre of an experiment to see whether she could be trained to work as part of the team.
Unlike ordinary police dogs, Keela has never taken part in the usual six-week training course but has been trained, bit by bit, by Pc Grime every day.
Her programme involved training her to ignore decomposing body materials, other than human blood.
And instead of barking when she smells blood, she has been trained to have a 'passive' alert - freezing, with her nose as near to the subject matter as possible without touching it.
This enables scientists to recover the sample quickly and efficiently - saving time and money.
Labels:
Abigail Witchells,
Keela,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime,
South Yorkshire Police
Police dog top earner
Police dog top earner
31 December 2005
Daily Post (Liverpool)
One of the country's top police dogs earns more in a day than her force's chief constable.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country and is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses.
If she worked every day, she would earn almost £200,000 - £70,000 more than the top cop.
Her handler, Pc Martin Grime, and National Search Adviser Mark Harrison have trained Keela.
Continue Reading...
31 December 2005
Daily Post (Liverpool)
One of the country's top police dogs earns more in a day than her force's chief constable.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country and is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses.
If she worked every day, she would earn almost £200,000 - £70,000 more than the top cop.
Her handler, Pc Martin Grime, and National Search Adviser Mark Harrison have trained Keela.
Labels:
Keela,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime,
South Yorkshire Police
Pooch is top dog for police salaries
Pooch is top dog for police salaries
31 December 2005
Birmingham Mail
ONE of the country's top police dogs - bred by West Midlands Police -earns more in a day than her force's Chief Constable.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country, including working on the high-profile stabbing of Abigail Witchalls in Surrey, and is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses.
If she worked every day of the year, she would earn almost £200,000 -around £70,000 more than her force's Chief Constable. Now forces worldwide have expressed interest in her specialist training and Keela will be travelling to America in the New Year to assist the FBI with two murder inquiries.
A South Yorkshire force spokeswoman said the crime scene investigation dog has saved more then £200,000 nationally since April this year, helping with investigations in Ireland, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey and the Thames Valley areas.
Her handler, PC Martin Grime, has been responsible for training Keela, along with National Search Adviser Mark Harrison, since June last year. Then the eight-week-old puppy became the centre of an experiment to see whether she could be trained to work as part of the team.
Unlike ordinary police dogs, Keela has never taken part in the usual six-week training course but has been trained, bit by bit, by PC Grime every day.
Continue Reading...
31 December 2005
Birmingham Mail
ONE of the country's top police dogs - bred by West Midlands Police -earns more in a day than her force's Chief Constable.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country, including working on the high-profile stabbing of Abigail Witchalls in Surrey, and is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses.
If she worked every day of the year, she would earn almost £200,000 -around £70,000 more than her force's Chief Constable. Now forces worldwide have expressed interest in her specialist training and Keela will be travelling to America in the New Year to assist the FBI with two murder inquiries.
A South Yorkshire force spokeswoman said the crime scene investigation dog has saved more then £200,000 nationally since April this year, helping with investigations in Ireland, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey and the Thames Valley areas.
Her handler, PC Martin Grime, has been responsible for training Keela, along with National Search Adviser Mark Harrison, since June last year. Then the eight-week-old puppy became the centre of an experiment to see whether she could be trained to work as part of the team.
Unlike ordinary police dogs, Keela has never taken part in the usual six-week training course but has been trained, bit by bit, by PC Grime every day.
Labels:
Abigail Witchells,
FBI,
Keela,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime,
South Yorkshire Police
Police dog Keela is force's top earner
Police dog Keela is force's top earner
30 December 2005
Press Association National Newswire
Wesley Johnson, PA
One of the country's top police dogs earns more in a day than her force's Chief Constable, it emerged today.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country, including working on the high-profile stabbing of Abigail Witchalls in Surrey, and is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses.
If she worked every day of the year, she would earn almost £200,000 - around £70,000 more than her force's Chief Constable.
Now forces worldwide have expressed interest in her specialist training and Keela will be travelling to America in the New Year to assist the FBI with two murder inquiries.
A South Yorkshire force spokeswoman said the crime scene investigation dog has saved more then £200,000 nationally since April this year, helping with investigations in Ireland, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey and the Thames Valley areas.
Her handler, Pc Martin Grime, has been responsible for training Keela, along with National Search Adviser Mark Harrison, since June last year.
Then the eight-week-old puppy, who was bred by West Midlands Police, became the centre of an experiment to see whether she could be trained to work as part of the team.
Unlike ordinary police dogs, Keela has never taken part in the usual six-week training course but has been trained, bit by bit, by Pc Grime every day.
Her programme involved training her to ignore decomposing body materials other than human blood. And instead of barking when she smells blood, she has been trained to have a 'passive'' alert - freezing with her nose as near to the subject matter as possible without touching, to enable scientists to recover the sample quickly and efficiently.
This technique has saved time and money on major investigations.
Keela was called in to help Surrey Police when Mrs Witchalls, 26, was stabbed in the neck and left paralysed as she pushed her toddler son in his buggy near their home in Little Bookham on April 20.
Pc Grime said:
She can search any area, including houses, cars, boats, both indoors and outdoors, and will lead her handler to spots of blood so small that humans cannot see them.
She screens textiles and can pick out traces of blood even after clothing has been washed many times or weapons cleaned.
Although she is still in the early stages of her career, Keela has been more successful than her trainers hoped.
She has had a number of operational finds recovering murder weapons, identifying the blood of a victim in a suspect's car and screening numerous amounts of clothing belonging to suspects.
South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes said:
Continue Reading...
30 December 2005
Press Association National Newswire
Wesley Johnson, PA
One of the country's top police dogs earns more in a day than her force's Chief Constable, it emerged today.
Keela, a 16-month-old springer spaniel, can sniff out the smallest samples of human blood - even after items have been cleaned or washed many times.
The South Yorkshire Police dog has already helped forces across the country, including working on the high-profile stabbing of Abigail Witchalls in Surrey, and is hired out at £530 per day, plus expenses.
If she worked every day of the year, she would earn almost £200,000 - around £70,000 more than her force's Chief Constable.
Now forces worldwide have expressed interest in her specialist training and Keela will be travelling to America in the New Year to assist the FBI with two murder inquiries.
A South Yorkshire force spokeswoman said the crime scene investigation dog has saved more then £200,000 nationally since April this year, helping with investigations in Ireland, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey and the Thames Valley areas.
Her handler, Pc Martin Grime, has been responsible for training Keela, along with National Search Adviser Mark Harrison, since June last year.
Then the eight-week-old puppy, who was bred by West Midlands Police, became the centre of an experiment to see whether she could be trained to work as part of the team.
Unlike ordinary police dogs, Keela has never taken part in the usual six-week training course but has been trained, bit by bit, by Pc Grime every day.
Her programme involved training her to ignore decomposing body materials other than human blood. And instead of barking when she smells blood, she has been trained to have a 'passive'' alert - freezing with her nose as near to the subject matter as possible without touching, to enable scientists to recover the sample quickly and efficiently.
This technique has saved time and money on major investigations.
Keela was called in to help Surrey Police when Mrs Witchalls, 26, was stabbed in the neck and left paralysed as she pushed her toddler son in his buggy near their home in Little Bookham on April 20.
Pc Grime said:
'As a result of this incident 350 items of clothing had been recovered which all needed testing for evidence.
'To have the items examined at the forensic lab would have cost £200 for each item. 'Keela managed to help in just one day which resulted in eight pieces of clothing being detected with blood stains on them.''
She can search any area, including houses, cars, boats, both indoors and outdoors, and will lead her handler to spots of blood so small that humans cannot see them.
She screens textiles and can pick out traces of blood even after clothing has been washed many times or weapons cleaned.
Although she is still in the early stages of her career, Keela has been more successful than her trainers hoped.
She has had a number of operational finds recovering murder weapons, identifying the blood of a victim in a suspect's car and screening numerous amounts of clothing belonging to suspects.
South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes said:
'Keela's training gives the force an edge when it comes to forensic investigation, which we should recognise and use more often.
'Martin has developed this capability through innovation and experience, and we are now considering how best to develop the training further.
'We know other forces are interested, both here and abroad, and we must see what opportunities we can develop.
'We know we have an operationally excellent dog section, and our specialist dogs are being developed in a unique way.''
Labels:
Abigail Witchells,
Keela,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime,
South Yorkshire Police
Super sleuth dogs
 |
1 June 2005
BBC News
Specialist tracker dogs have been called in to help in the Abigail Witchalls case, more than a month after the young mother was stabbed. What, if anything, might they find after so long?
In Paul Auster's novel Timbuktu, a dog's ability to smell is indulged by its owner concocting a mixture of the richest smelling things he can devise.
"A dog had roughly 220 million scent receptors, whereas a man had but five million, and with as great a disparity as that, it was logical to assume that the world perceived by a dog was quite different from the one perceived by a man," Auster wrote.
But there are sniffer dogs and there are sniffer dogs, it seems.
Some six weeks after the vicious knife attack on Abigail Witchalls, Surrey police have called on the services of four sniffer dogs with exceptional abilities.
Even your average pet dog is blessed with an outstanding nose compared with humans. A dog's sense of smell is tens of times better than ours and this, coupled with the fact humans are pretty poor at covering up their scent, explains why dogs are important in helping to investigate a crime scene.
But sniffer dogs come in all shapes and sizes - any breed can be trained - and have a variety of skills. Cadaver dogs, for example, are specialists at searching for corpses; tracking dogs can locate a specific person on the basis of scent.
The nose knows
Despite the fact dogs were used to search the scene of the attack immediately after it happened, the new canine recruits - two from the Dyfed Powys force, two from South Yorkshire - have more refined abilities.
Police have collected scent from a number of suspects, and implanted these on pads for the dogs. Having learned the smells they're looking for, the dogs are roaming specific parts of the woodland around Little Bookham, Surrey, where the attack took place.
"We are looking for the weapon and any items the offender may have discarded," says Detective Chief Inspector Brian Russell of Surrey police.
But humans don't just leave their scent on what they carry and wear. The thousands of microscopic skin cells we constantly shed provide a trace of where we've been.
"[The dogs] can work through brush and undergrowth and the scent still permeates from those areas," says Mark Harrison, a national police search adviser involved in the case.
Sgt John Cod, of Dyfed Powys police, says its two dogs - a German and Belgium Shepherd - will comb areas outlined by Surrey police, looking for body fluids.
They will be accompanied by a Border Collie and a Springer Spaniel from South Yorkshire; the springer is specifically trained to sniff out human blood.
Tony Cronin, whose company Dragon K9 trains search dogs, says the process is straight-forward.
"You put the scent on a tennis ball and throw it around for the dog to retrieve. Then you progress to hiding the scent itself and reward the dog with the tennis ball when he's found it."
It takes about three months to get standard search dogs up to scratch, he says.
When they are fully trained, dogs exhibit quite remarkable powers of detection, he says. A dog could detect five grams of cannabis in a room the size of five-a-side football pitch in three to four seconds.
But the training of these super-sniffers is far more intense, says Sgt Cod, and has pushed the boundaries of what tracker dogs can do.
"We've opened out the ability of these dogs and experimented with what they are capable to do with their nasal capabilities. We know now that what we've asked them to do in the past [was] restricting their ability."
Labels:
Abigail Witchells,
Eddie,
Keela,
Mark Harrison,
Martin Grime,
South Yorkshire Police
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