- Police dogs at Staffordshire Police are equipped with FidoCam in a UK first
- The digital camera, fitted to the dog's head, transmits live images to a monitor held by police
- Can be used in firearm incidents, searching for offenders or missing persons
By ALEX WARD
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Jerry Lee the police sniffer dog might have kept James Belushi's police detective character out of trouble in the action comedy K-9, but dogs at Staffordshire Police are using digital cameras to keep their officers safe.
The Staffordshire police dogs are the first in the UK to be equipped with the new FidoCam, a digital camera unit fitted on their heads to fight crime.
Canine camera: Police dogs at Staffordshire Police are being fitted with FidoCams to search for offenders and missing persons in buildings and dense woodland
Crime fighters: With police dog Max fitted with FidoCam, Officer Darren Aird can get information to deal with situations safely and appropriately
The unit, together with a dog’s keen sense of smell, are used in firearm incidents, searching for dangerous offenders in buildings or missing persons in dense woodland and undergrowth.
The digital camera and radio transmitter relays footage and sound back to officers on a live colour monitor held by officers.
Inspector Chris Dawson, from Staffordshire Police’s Dog Support Unit, said: ‘This bit of kit is fantastic, it attaches to the dog’s head and we can get a live view of what they are seeing.
A dog's view: Images are streamed back to the live colour monitor quicker and more accurately than the older, analogue version
‘There are many situations when this technology will be beneficial to our officers.
‘For example, when searching for a dangerous person we can send the dog into a building with the camera to search for them, when they indicate a find by barking we will be able to see exactly what or who they have found.
‘This will ultimately provide us with more information so we can deal with the situation safely and appropriately.
Sniff them out: Max's keen sense of smell means he can seek out an offender quickly
‘It will also be extremely useful when searching difficult or inaccessible areas for missing people – a dog can make its way through dense woodland and undergrowth very quickly.
‘While the handler will maintain verbal contact with the dog this camera will allow them to search vast areas a lot faster.’
FidoCam is replacing an analogue version which had a limited signal range.
Sgt Tom Marshall of Staffordshire Police said: ‘The camera is different because it has a digital receiver meaning it’s less bulky, gives a good extended range, great picture quality and will have sound.
‘We will use it in buildings, warehouses, woods and just about anywhere to search for an offender and because it’s digital, it won’t lose signal.
‘Whilst we accept that our job is risky, the dog cameras will give us a chance to hear and see the offender so we can locate them quickly.’
The equipment makes a policeman’s job much safer and quicker Sgt Marshall said.
He said: ‘The dogs can locate a human fast because of their fantastic sense of smell, so with the digital camera on their head streaming back to the sergeant, it means we will be able to act quicker and more accurately.
‘It’s also the first of this type of camera to be made in the UK so it’s nice to support a British firm.’
The 'two toughest cops in town': Jerry Lee the dog and actor James Belushi starred in the 1989 film K-9 making a name in Hollywood for police sniffer dogs everywhere
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175831/Police-force-kit-force-dogs-digital-cameras-gather-evidence.html#ixzz217XLdCMK
