Crime-fighting canines praised for their police work collaring criminals across Cambridgeshire

Running from the law is never wise, especially when you have a fearless 30kg German Shepherd hot on your tail.

From diving into swamps, to locating offenders hiding 30ft up trees – there’s nothing these pooches won’t do to help their human colleagues chase down crime leads.

These speedy pups have the power to sniff out even the sneakiest of suspects – but they don’t just stop criminals from going “walkies” – they also help to find vulnerable missing people.

Here, Cambridgeshire Constabulary looks back over the work of their police dogs in 2025, and celebrates some of their most memorable moments.

“They could run, but they couldn’t hide”

• “The new year kicked off with PD Armour deployed to a concern-for-welfare report,” a force spokesperson recalls. “Despite muddy terrain and wet, windy conditions, Armour successfully found the person safe and well. Afterwards, Armour and his handler enjoyed an unplanned New Year’s swim. We also welcomed five new trainee Police Dogs: Annie, Hector, Xena, Shadow, and Mac.”

• Later in the year, new police dog PD Hector found two vulnerable people who had run away. “They were able to receive the medical help they needed after Hector found them in a very rural area,” the spokesperson explained. “Later that season, Hector tracked two men who fled the scene of a collision. His nose led him across fields, near train tracks, and into a swamp nearly waist-deep. The suspects could run - but they couldn’t hide.”

• PD Cleo was sent to search for a “high-risk domestic abuse offender”. Police said Cleo tracked the suspect through a play area, along farm tracks, and into fields - where she successfully located them. “Meanwhile, PD Boz and his handler were hot on the heels of a person who ran from a stolen vehicle,” the spokesperson went on. “They thought hiding 30ft up a tree in the woods would save them - but Boz had other ideas.”

• PD Bonnie searched through several gardens for a suspect wanted for domestic abuse offences. “His hide-and-seek skills were no match for Bonnie’s nose,” the spokesperson said. “She found him performing a ‘plank’ position on top of a wall.”

Some of the force’s Firearms Support Dogs, PDs Armour and Bear, even took to the skies for a helicopter ride to experience being in the air before being deployed on a job.

The spokesperson added: “From muddy fields to treetop chases, our dogs have worked tirelessly to keep communities safe. Here’s to another year of paw-some policing.”