Two springer spaniels, Iggy and Moss, are the newest recruits in the fight against digital crime. These specially trained dogs are part of a growing team of “digital detection dogs” being used by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police.
For the past six years, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has employed dogs to help locate digital devices—an essential task as technology becomes a key part of criminal investigations. The newly recruited Iggy and Moss are currently undergoing an intensive eight-week training course to detect a variety of digital and media recording devices. They will join their seasoned counterparts, including Loki, a liver and white springer spaniel who is renewing his licence after years of service.
The Training Process and Roles of the Dogs
The dogs are being trained to detect items like mobile phones, laptops, USB drives, SIM cards, crypto wallets, hard drives, spy cameras, and even tracking devices. Their keen sense of smell allows them to locate these devices in a wide range of environments, from homes and commercial buildings to vehicles and even aircraft.
Police dog instructor Tim Lawrence explained that these dogs play a crucial role in various departments, including child abuse investigations, priority crime teams, and commercial vehicle units. Their ability to detect digital devices has been vital in uncovering critical evidence that would otherwise have been difficult to find.
A Unique Skillset in Digital Investigations
Once their training is complete, Iggy, Moss, and Loki will work alongside other skilled dogs like Dizzee, a spaniel, and Ruby, a labrador, both of whom have years of experience. Their work involves searching in diverse locations—whether it’s residential areas, commercial buildings, or open landscapes—and they have helped solve a variety of complex cases.
By bringing these dogs into digital crime investigations, law enforcement has added an innovative layer of assistance in the pursuit of justice, highlighting the evolving role of animals in high-tech crime fighting.