Elite counter-terror dog unit scrapped to cut costs
The Belgian malinois dogs, which were introduced in 2016, have been a key part of the Met's Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officer (CTSFO) unit.
The highly trained and fearless animals have been deployed on dozens of armed operations and have been credited with helping to detain a large number of dangerous criminals and terrorist suspects without the need for officers to discharge their weapons.
Unlike general duty police dogs, the euphemistically titled, Conflict Management Dogs (CMD), are trained to bite and incapacitate a target even if they stop fleeing.
The breed can be trained to ignore loud bangs such as gunfire and explosions and are used by Special Forces units around the world, including the SAS and US Navy Seals.
They have even been trained to be parachuted out of helicopters and onto battlefields.
The Met initially bought and trained two dogs but doubled the unit in 2018 amid rising concern about the possibility that Britain could become the target of a terror attack.
They were attached to the Met's elite CTSFO team, which as well as responding to terror attacks are also deployed on intelligence-led operations such as armed robberies.
Reduced fatal shootings
Since the dogs became operational, CTSFO officers have not been involved in a single fatal shooting.
The breed are noted for their agility, extremely high intelligence and loyalty to their owners.
But after undergoing intense training with the Met, the animals are unable to be housed with their handlers and have to live in special kennels at a secret police HQ in London.
The cost of training and caring for the dogs is estimated to run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds each year and with the Met having to plug a £260 million black hole in its finances, senior figures have made the difficult decision to get rid of them.
One source familiar with the unit said the animals were worth their weight in gold because of their ability to quickly neutralise hostile targets and diffuse dangerous situations.
The source said: 'The CMD dogs have been an invaluable tool in the armoury of the CTSFO. They are incredibly effective and since their introduction there has not been a single shooting of a suspect.
'To see them in action is really something. You can have the most determined and ruthless armed criminal at large but when they come nose to nose with one of these dogs it is remarkable how quickly they shrink and comply.
'They are mega beasts. Their bite is definitely worse than their bark and their intelligence and agility is off the charts.'
Another police insider added: 'These dogs are a less lethal option than using firearms and their use is supported by the Department for Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
'There are plenty of other far more expensive counter terror tactics that have been developed only by the Met that have never been deployed but these dogs are used daily and have undoubtedly prevented countless lethal confrontations. Even the use of Taser has been dramatically reduced.
'It is a real shame that the Met has decided to pull the plug because I fear in the long run we will be left counting the cost.'
The decision to get rid of the dogs comes amid a funding crisis at Scotland Yard, which is trying to plug a £260 million shortfall in its budget.
As well as reducing officer numbers, the force has had to make difficult choices in other areas including cutting schools officers and axing its Royal Parks team.
Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has established a panel of senior officers, known as 'The Engine Room', who are tasked with making the tough budget choices over what areas to axe.
A Met spokesman said: 'We're prioritising resources and putting more officers on the beat in the busiest parts of London to focus on core policing priorities, protect the public, and tackle areas with high crime.
'Due to our financial constraints, we're making tough choices and we've made the decision to withdraw the use of Conflict Management Dogs, which are not used in other forces across the country.
'The Met continues to have a sizeable dog unit with multiple capabilities.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Strictly Come Dancing: BBC responds as two TV stars accused of taking cocaine
The BBC has responded after it was reported that two Strictly Come Dancing stars have been accused of taking cocaine. The broadcaster is said to have hired an external law firm to probe the drug-taking allegations, which a source said were "well-known" on the show, The Sun on Sunday reports. The claims were reportedly made on behalf of celebrity contestant Wynne Evans in a legal submission to the BBC in March. In response, a BBC spokesperson told Sky News: "We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. "It would not be appropriate for us to comment further." Sky News understands that it is not unusual for the BBC to engage an external individual to provide additional expert resource to help deliver a BBC-led investigation. In these cases, they would report to an established BBC team. The allegations published in The Sun on Sunday include a source saying that one Strictly star had told another about a third celebrity on the show: "Have you seen their pupils... they're off their face." "The BBC have known about these allegations for some time, and acknowledged receiving them. Now they are taking firm action," the source reportedly said. The two individuals accused of drug taking have not been named. It is the latest crisis to hit the BBC and Strictly. In July last year, Amanda Abbington accused Strictly dancer Giovanni Pernice of "abusive or threatening behaviour". The actress, who was paired with Pernice, withdrew from the show in 2023. The BBC upheld "some, but not all" of the allegations, with Abbington describing an apology from the corporation as a "vindication", while Pernice denied displaying "abusive or threatening behaviour". In the same month, Strictly professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima confirmed he was leaving the show amid reports of alleged misconduct. Separately, Laura Whitmore alleged "inappropriate behaviour" during her time on the show.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Graham Potter insists Lucas Paqueta is ‘happy and committed' to West Ham
Graham Potter has insisted Lucas Paqueta is 'happy and committed' to West Ham after the Brazil midfielder was cleared of alleged breaches of the Football Association's betting regulations. Paqueta was facing a potential life ban before having his name cleared this week of the spot-fixing sting that had hung over him for two years. The situation ended Paqueta's hopes of a big money move to Manchester City. But despite rumours the Brazilian could leave West Ham before the close of the transfer window, Potter is firmly hoping he stays. 'These things you never know for sure, obviously, because anything can happen in the window with anybody,' the West Ham manager said. 'But at the same time, the news that we've had is just incredibly positive, because if it had gone the other way, there's a whole other line of questions. 'Lucas is happy, Lucas is committed, Lucas is an important person in the dressing room, an important person in the club. 'We love him and we just wanted to help him enjoy his football.' Paqueta's lawyer Alastair Campbell, a partner at the law firm Level, said the case had taken a heavy toll on Paqueta and effectively cost him a Premier League title winner's medal. He was on the brink of a £85m move to City when the charges were announced in August 2023. Campbell said: 'Lucas' life has basically been on hold for the last two years. He woke up every morning with the fear that this could be the day when his career was going to be over. Of course, Lucas is delighted with the outcome of the commission - but what shouldn't be forgotten is that there is an alternative universe where he moves to Manchester City and now has a Premier League winner's medal. 'The strain he has been under since the charges were announced in August 2023 has been incredible. That's something that shouldn't be forgotten in all of this. This case has come at a considerable cost to Lucas, both as a person and as a professional footballer.' Potter said there was little doubt about how difficult the process has been for Paqueta. 'You can imagine how hard it was on a personal level for him, having to fight those allegations, which he's done,' he said. 'The club have supported him through that. 'But again, you forget these guys are Premier League footballers competing at the highest level and to have that as well in the background was an incredible challenge for him. 'It's been a really tough period of his life and his career, so it's a credit to him and his family and everybody connected with him and the support he's had, that he's come through. 'Obviously, if that's a benefit to him, then it's going to be a benefit to us, the team and the club.' Potter, who has signed former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson on a free transfer, confirmed Michail Antonio will not be part of his first team squad after recovering from his car crash. The Jamaica striker, 35, faced a potential career-ending leg operation after a car crash in December but played for his adopted nation in this summer's Gold Cup. He is now out of contract.
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Sky News
Lucy Hargreaves was shot dead in 2005 - her home set on fire. A suspect in her murder is still at large
Britain's most-wanted fugitive is still on the run - exactly 20 years after the fatal shooting of a young mother of three. Kevin Parle is a suspect in the murder of Lucy Hargreaves, 22, who was shot dead at her home in Liverpool before the house was set on fire on 3 August 2005. Since then, after many appeals for information, there has been no confirmed sighting, word or trace of him. Two decades on, Ms Hargreaves' family have had no justice. Two young men prosecuted for her murder had charges dropped when a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence against them. In a statement marking the anniversary of her death, they said: "The way we lost Lucy is not something families can ever truly come to terms with - it is still incredibly difficult and painful to think about. "Over the past 20 years, people will have talked with family and friends. A number of people were contacted by males using a phone that was stolen along with a vehicle used in Lucy's murder. "We appeal directly to them to please come forward. Now is the time." Three men burst into Lucy's home 20 years ago today, shot her dead as she slept on a sofa, and set alight the duvet she'd been sleeping under. It's believed the gang were looking for her boyfriend Gary Campbell, who was upstairs. He fled from a window with their two-year-old daughter and then tried in vain to save Ms Hargreaves. Mr Campbell had allegedly been a passenger in a stolen car that had hit and killed a young boy 12 years earlier, supposedly the motive for the shooting. He denied he was in the car at the time. Howard Rubbery, head of the Serious Crime Review Unit at Merseyside Police said: "The family remain absolutely devastated by Lucy's death. "It's important to note Lucy is an absolutely innocent victim. She's not from a family of criminality. She wasn't involved in criminality. "The hunt for Kevin Parle is very much on, and we ask anybody with information, anybody who is close to Parle and knows where he is, to please come forward. "There were three males responsible for this offence and we are looking for justice for Lucy's family in relation to all three. "I do believe that there are people out there who have yet to speak to the police, even though it's 20 years on, who hold information that's absolutely vital to our investigation." Police believe Parle, now in his 40s, fled to Spain where he hid among the vast expat community with criminal help. Several years later, I tracked his movements to a holiday complex near Torrevieja, where staff convinced me he had stayed there for several weeks. 'Huge value to organised crime' Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley, who recently spent four years on a personal hunt for Parle, also visited the complex and said: "He was bold and he was brash and he had a girlfriend at one point. "The police actually should have captured him there, but they were too late." He claimed he nearly caught up with Parle at a villa elsewhere in Spain, but spooked him into disappearing again. Mr Bleksley hosted an award-winning podcast and wrote a book in which he chronicled his manhunt. He said: "Kevin Parle has remained hidden because he is funded, protected, looked after and of huge value to global, serious and organised crime." Parle can't be hard to spot - he's well-built, 6ft 5in tall, red-haired with a face scar and, originally at least, has a Liverpool accent. Of course, he might be dead. Mr Bleksley said: "I can think of many reasons why certain criminals would want to get rid of Kevin Parle because he could, in terms of evidence about the cases that he's wanted for, should he flip and become a witness for the Crown, be highly damaging for a lot of very tasty criminals." Parle is also wanted in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Liam Kelly, who was shot dead over an alleged £200 debt in June 2004, a year before Lucy's death. Parle was arrested and questioned, but then freed on bail. There have been reports of the fugitive in Australia and Dubai, but nothing to corroborate any of them. If he's alive and if no one is prepared to shop him, what might lead to his capture? "I think when he has a fallout with those who have guarded him, funded him, fed him, put a roof over his head and all of that, maybe even paid for his plastic surgery that could have altered his appearance," Mr Bleksley said. "When he finally has a fallout, when he's no longer of use, then perhaps that will be the day that somebody goes, Peter, he's here."
