Most of the time firearms support dogs work as general purpose dogs, searching for offenders or missing people, dealing with public order situations and detaining violent criminals.

Firearms Support Dogs operate in Avon and Somerset Constabulary in support of fully trained firearms officers. Most of the time they work as general purpose police dogs across the force area, searching for offenders or missing people, dealing with public order situations or detaining violent people.

When called upon, they perform the additional tasks required of them as firearms support dogs. Dogs who work closely with the Tactical Firearms Team are often the first to enter and search a building. Not all of our dogs are capable of being trained to perform this role as it requires them to work in highly stressful situations while keeping very quiet and with only the minimum of direction from their handler.

There are seven trained firearms support dogs in the force

The local media experienced some of the training that firearms support dogs undergo. Click on the video below to watch one of the training scenarios.