Police use ‘cyber dogs’ to sniff out paedophiles

BRITAIN’S first “cyber dogs” have been successfully used by police to sniff out paedophiles.

The first Fbi-trained detection dogs are used to track down computer software hidden in the homes of suspected sex offenders.

The dogs are specially trained to sniff out hidden hard drives and other electronic storage devices that could contain damning digital evidence, such as indecent images of children or terrorism material.

Essex Police successfully used them on Wednesday during a raid. An 18-monthold springer spaniel, named Tweed, guided by PC Martin King, its handler, was able to track down a number of items which are now being examined. Tweed, and its colleague, a labrador named Rob, are based with Devon and Cornwall Police and are the only two cyber detection dogs in the country.

The pair are the only dogs outside of the US to be used in this way and received specialist training from the FBI.

They were then trained up by the dogs policing unit at Devon and Cornwall Police and passed their training in May.

Det Chief Insp Jon Burgess, of Essex Police, tweeted: “Essex Police Online Team used cyber dogs for the 1st time to assist with searching a [suspect’s] property yesterday, positive result!”