Cruise and Dexter with their handlers PC Dave Smith and PC Rob Powell
Cruise and Dexter with handlers PC Dave Smith and PC Rob Powell

People dealing drugs in Lichfield and Burntwood are more likely be collared after two new police sniffer dogs completed their training.

The two black Labradors – Dexter and Cruise – have have undergone basic obedience training and have now completed an eight-week training course in pro-active and passive drugs searching.

Dexter, who is 15-months-old, is handled by PC Rob Powell and Cruise, who is Staffordshire Police’s youngest dog at 11 months, is handled by PC Dave Smith.

The crime-fighting pooches are also trained to search for firearms and ammunition, both live and used.

Insp Chris Dawson, from the force’s dog support unit, said:

“The two young dogs have done extremely well in their training and will be great assets to the force. Although we have a team of drugs dogs, prior to Dexter and Cruise joining the team we only had one passive drugs dog. He has already proved his worth in our fight against drugs and drug dealers.”

The three passive drugs dogs will now be used throughout the county.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.