Force dogs pass Initial Firearms Support Course

4 April 2024

A Nottinghamshire Police Federation member has told how two of the Force’s police dogs have passed their Initial Firearms Support Dog Course.

PC Jon Burton, a dog trainer for Nottinghamshire Police, congratulated Police Dog Loki and Police Dog Drax, along with their handlers, after they completed a three week firearm support dog course.

During the course the dogs and handlers focused on working with and alongside authorised firearms officers.

The training focuses mainly on the dogs searching buildings, vehicles, and open spaces, and they were exposed to real firearms and gunfire.

As general-purpose police dogs, Loki and Drax work mainly with just their handlers, and their training has taught the dogs to work safely and confidently as part of a larger team.

Police Dog Drax is part of the dynamic duo.

They give the authorised firearms officers another ‘less than lethal’ option to bring operations they are involved with to a safe conclusion.

Jon said: “All our police dogs and handlers are already very highly trained, but it goes without saying that there are additional risks when responding with armed officers to potential firearms incidents.

“That’s why we run this additional training course to ensure the dogs and their handlers perform as we expect them to in the most difficult and dangerous situations.

He added: “Congratulations to PC Louis Marshall and PD Drax, along with PC Sam Hawker and PD Loki, on undertaking this important role and passing the course to become authorised firearm support dogs.”

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