With cybercrime soaring, police forces have turned to the smelling superpowers of dogs to hunt for evidence. thetimes.co.uk/article/digi-d…
Whether it’s a Sim card from a drug gang’s burner phone, a key fob for a getaway car, a terrorist’s mobile phone, a laptop in a fraud case or a paedophile’s hidden USB stick, “digi-dogs” can sniff it out. 
“On every digital storage device there is a chemical that has a very specific scent,” explains PC Brett French.
Dogs’ noses, French says, are packed with about 300 million olfactory receptors, compared with a paltry six million in ours.
Dogs’ noses, French says, are packed with about 300 million olfactory receptors, compared with a paltry six million in ours.
“We’ve had a lot of successes,” says PC Chris Duffee. On one raid he says, “Jake [the dog] gave me an indication on an empty iPhone box. He was adamant there was something there. It revealed a false bottom.”
“Within that was a hidden phone. They’re making these finds all the time — it’s stuff that could easily be missed by officers in a search.”
Digi-dogs have even been involved in an international swoop on suspected bitcoin thieves. “Our dogs can find crypto wallets,” Duffee adds.
Digi-dogs have even been involved in an international swoop on suspected bitcoin thieves. “Our dogs can find crypto wallets,” Duffee adds.
Think “police dog” and you probably envisage a German shepherd or a Belgian malinois — something big, toothy and fierce.
Those are the general purpose (GP) dogs — “the bitey ones”, as one officer calls them.
Those are the general purpose (GP) dogs — “the bitey ones”, as one officer calls them.
Sniffer dogs are usually labradors, springer spaniels or cocker spaniels — traditional gundog retriever breeds that have what PC French calls “a high drive for search”.
Forensic dogs, says Inspector Stephen Biles, can help solve “sexual assaults, stranger rapes — we can use them to track down traces of semen in parks”. Others can find murder victims.
Duffee’s digi-dog, Jake, was born and bred at the Met’s dog training centre in Keston.
In a far corner of the leafy site is a low-rise building with the signs “Puppy block” and “Breeding unit” on the gate. “This is the Hilton for puppies,” says Biles, a jovial Yorkshireman.
In a far corner of the leafy site is a low-rise building with the signs “Puppy block” and “Breeding unit” on the gate. “This is the Hilton for puppies,” says Biles, a jovial Yorkshireman.
“Yes, I do have the best inspector’s job in the Met,” Biles, the man in charge at Keston, says with a grin.
Read more: thetimes.co.uk/article/digi-d…
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