Swann Praises PSNI Dog Section Following Visit to Steeple Campus

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has praised the exceptional work of the PSNI Dog Training Team and kennel staff following a recent visit to their headquarters at Steeple in Antrim.

During his visit to the Steeple Training Campus, Mr Swann observed first-hand the high standard of training and the recently upgraded facilities that prepare the Dog Section for duty. The tour included live demonstrations of the dogs’ capabilities including property searches and suspect apprehension.

He was also briefed on and was able to see for himself the innovative ‘Digi-Dog’ pilot being run by the team. This programme involves training dogs to locate hidden electronic devices such as mobile phones, SIM cards, trackers and drones, ensuring the PSNI are better equipped to find evidence and keep people safe in an increasingly digital time.

Reflecting on the visit, Mr Swann said:

"It was fantastic to visit the Steeple Campus and see these brilliant facilities in action. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a high standard of training and care based in South Antrim. The passion and dedication of the officers and staff was easy to see and it’s clear that the welfare of the dogs and the effectiveness of their training are the top priorities.

"The Dog Section is a really interesting and unique aspect of policing. These dogs carry out a huge range of different tasks and responsibilities to keep the public safe. Seeing how the officers and their dogs work together, the important role these dogs play in a wide range of policing, and how the team is working to adapt through the new digital pilot really highlighted how important the Dog Section is for modern policing.”