Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 21, 2016 (SKNIS): Six new canine officers have been added to the ranks of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force bolstering the capacity to detect devices that can be used to commit criminal acts.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, said two of the dogs are general purpose dogs, while the remaining four are specially trained to detect guns, explosives and drugs. He added that they are trained to carry out searches in various environments including buildings, vehicles, cargo and freight. Additionally, they are able to track persons over long distances and a variety of terrains, ignoring other scents and distractions encountered.
While speaking at his monthly press conference on Wednesday (April 20), Dr. Harris said the reinforced K-9 Unit will help to keep the streets safer.
“If [persons] bring them (drugs, guns or explosives) in at the airport we must detect them. If they bring them at the seaport we must detect them,” the prime minister stated. “If they take them in any area of Basseterre or rural St. Kitts and Nevis we must detect them for the safety and security of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Dr. Harris said government invested significantly in the acquisition of the dogs and will spend more resources in training and maintenance in the coming year. A number of police officers, including two members of the senior rank, are currently undergoing training to become handlers of the dogs. The training is being facilitated by an instructor from Dog Detectives Ltd in the United Kingdom.