PC with a bark that’s bigger than his bite...

A POLICE officer who once imitated a police dog to catch a suspect has used a similar trick to make another arrest. After spotting a man wanted for breaching a restraining order, PC Steve Hutton convinced him to remain where he was by shouting ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘lie down’ to an imaginary dog while standing by the rear of his patrol car in Salisbury.

The terrified suspect was then apprehended by other officers who came to assist PC Hutton on Friday. The officer said: ‘I knew the man would stay still if I could convince him I had a dog. Luckily I didn’t have to bark this time.’

Last year, the constable was part of a team pursuing a speeding vehicle which was brought to a halt with a stinger device on the M4 near Swindon. Four youths fled the scene but PC Hutton was able to trick one of them by shouting out that he was a dog-handler – and then barking. The youngster stopped long enough for PC Hutton to move in and arrest him.