Billy, the drugs detection drug with the West Midlands Police

About this episode

This episode explores the training and operational work of Billy, a young spaniel drug detection dog, and his handler, Police Constable Paul King.

A window into the working life of Billy, a young spaniel with a promising career ahead of him as a drugs detection dog.  Billy’s handler, Police Constable Paul King describes Billy’s training and how they navigate the leap into operational work. There's plenty of detail along the way - the difference between proactive and passive drug scanning.  Drugs detection work is a great game in some ways - criminals extend themselves to come up with ever more ingenious ways of hiding them and use decoy smells so Paul is alive to any opportunity to keep Billy’s skills evolving, too.  Paul explains why the greatest tool in the police toolbox is a dog's nose.  Recorded in the back of a police van at Crufts, the UK's largest dog show, in March 2025.  (I forgot to photograph Billy, hence going with the stock photo...I will replace it! ) You may also enjoy these connected episodes about the many disciplines within the police: Oreo, the digital asset dog The UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025 P.D. Viper the  firearms support dog P.D. Chase and the  career arc of a general purpose police dog P.D. Meika, who  searches for London criminals'…

People in this episode

Guest: Police Constable Paul King

Topics covered

• drug detection
• police dogs
• training
• canine skills
• law enforcement
• animal work

Keywords

• drugs detection
• police dog
• training
• canine nose
• law enforcement
• Crufts
• West Midlands Police

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: West Midlands Police

Books & works: Billy

Places: Crufts

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