New specialist police dogs facility opens at Suffolk Police Headquarters

New specialist police dogs facility opens at Suffolk Police Headquarters

A new purpose-built building for specialist police dogs has opened at Suffolk Constabulary Headquarters, supporting the growth of a capability helping officers locate hidden digital devices during criminal investigations.

The new dog section building at Martlesham will support the Joint Dog Section's expanding Digital Evidence Detection Dog (DEDD) programme, providing enhanced training facilities and operational space for specialist dog teams from Norfolk and Suffolk.

Digital Evidence Detection Dogs are trained to locate concealed electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, memory cards and USB storage devices, helping officers secure crucial evidence in a wide range of investigations, including safeguarding, serious and organised crime, violence against women and girls, and roads policing operations.

Since qualifying its first Digital Evidence Detection Dog instructors in 2025, there are now has six operational DEDD dogs working across both counties. The teams have already demonstrated their value by locating concealed devices that may contain vital evidential, intelligence and safeguarding material.  The dogs need to complete an intensive eight-week training course in digital evidence detection before being operationally active. The dogs are trained to recognise a range of different devices, enabling them to recover a wide range of digital technology that may contain vital evidence.

Inspector Gary Chapman, of the Joint Dog Section, said: "The opening of this new facility represents a significant milestone for our Dog Section and demonstrates our commitment to developing innovative capabilities that support modern policing.

"As the use of digital technology continues to grow, so does the need to identify and recover electronic devices that may contain vital evidence. Our Digital Evidence Detection Dogs provide a unique and highly effective capability that is already delivering real operational benefits across a wide range of investigations.

"This new facility will enable us to continue developing that capability, enhance training opportunities and support ongoing research into the future application of Digital Evidence Detection Dogs across policing, safeguarding and national security functions."

The Joint Dog Section is also supporting ongoing national research into the future use of Digital Evidence Detection Dogs, helping to advance understanding of how specialist canine capabilities can support policing and public protection.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, Tim Passmore, said: “I’ve always had a fondness for the force’s dog unit – it is a really important part of policing in Suffolk and much loved by the public.

“The way the team can train dogs to sniff out things like SIM cards is quite extraordinary and being able to develop that capability to go after thugs, yobs and organised crime groups is crucial.

“Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies are playing an increasingly significant role in national canine capability and this joint unit will position both forces as recognised leaders in specialist canine operations.”