Police unit ‘in the dog house’ over noise is moving out
NOISY barking from Dyfed-Powys Police’s headquarters is one of the reasons behind a move of the force’s dog section to a former helicopter base.
The canine cops and their trainers will relocate from Llangunnor, near Carmarthen, to the old helicopter support base in Pembrey. Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner Dafydd
Llywelyn has accepted a £359,000 bid from a Cross Handsbased firm, Sterling, to build the new facility.
Planning permission for the kennels and exercise area has been granted.
Speaking at a meeting of the Dyfed-Powys police and crime panel, Mr Llywelyn said: “We have had numerous complaints about the noise of the dogs at police HQ.”
He said the force also wanted to maximise its use of the former helicopter base, where police driver training takes place.
Mr Llywelyn said there would be plenty of exercise room for the dogs at Pembrey, a higher standard of kennels, and no close neighbours.
Some police dogs are donated by the public. A good temperament is key.
Police dogs are kept at their handlers’ homes to ensure they remain bonded.
They have holidays with their handler, either at home or in police kennels.
The new dog section was one of several decisions made by Plaid Cymru commissioner Mr Llywelyn in recent weeks.
Others included a decision to suspend all nonessential visits to police sites due to coronavirus restrictions, a £37,000 spend on personal protective equipment for frontline staff, and a preferred option for a new £16 million Llanelli custody suite and police station.
Work on the custody building and police station, on land west of Heol Aur, Dafen, is expected to get under way in June 2021.
“We have had numerous complaints about the noise of the dogs at police HQ Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn