Post by piccadillypilot on Oct 13, 2005 17:06:02 GMT
Be careful what you carry on the underground!!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4283664.stm
Mutley sniffs out trouble on Tube
As a happy, healthy dog, Mutley should be spending his time chasing cats and fetching sticks.
But instead the eight-year-old Springer Spaniel is on the front line of London's fight against terror, in his job sniffing out explosives on the capital's transport network.
Attracting warm smiles from onlookers, the super sleuth leaves no stone unturned as he silently walks through the crowds.
And he does it not for danger money or fame, but for the love of his favourite toy - a yellow tennis ball, which he gets to play with as a reward for his hard work.
During the attempted bombings in London on 21 July, Mutley and his handler Pc Graham Smith were called directly into the danger zone after an attempted bomb attack at Warren Street .
"We had just signed on and the call came through that there had been an explosion on the Tube," said Pc Smith.
"It felt very scary but this is what you train for and you get a buzz from it."
The constable, Mutley and a second team had to ensure the area inside the police cordon was safe.
Side-by-side they worked for 12 hours, abandoning the usual regime of working for 30 minutes, then resting for 30 minutes.
The dogs are normally given a break after about half-an-hour so they do not become immune to smells or lose interest but this day proved to be far from normal.
Suitcase obsession
The BBC News website joined the duo at Paddington station, west London, as they patrolled the concourse, Heathrow Express service and the Tube.
Once the harness is on, Mutley knows it is time to go to work.
As he eyes up the passengers heading for the Heathrow Express he displays a healthy obsession with suitcases, especially blue ones.
Not one person objects as he follows them along the platform, sniffing at their heels, until he is sure all is well.
Mutley is trained to freeze and sit down a distance away from whatever he is sniffing, to indicate that something is wrong.
"Dogs can pick up the scent of something that could have been there weeks ago and has since been moved so you never quite know," said Pc Smith.
Describing the one time Mutley gave a "positive indication" Pc Smith said it was not a situation you want to find yourself in.
"We were at Luton Airport and I saw him go up to a rubbish bin. Then he sat straight down a few feet away from it and the second handler came along and his dog did exactly the same.
"Fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm but it was a very scary feeling."
It quickly becomes evident that Mutley is not only an excellent crime deterrent but also a key weapon in the fight to improve public relations.
Clearly winning in the popularity stakes, Mutley is frequently stopped by people keen to give him a friendly stroke.
Increased profile
Insp Garth Stinson, who is in charge of the counter-terrorism dogs search unit, said: "It's a great ice-breaker, especially with young people. They won't talk to us but they will approach the dogs".
Mutley laps up all the attention without any objection but Pc Smith tells me he is a changed canine.
"He never used to be bothered about people or being petted but as a result of the bombings and the increased profile he's always being stroked and he loves it now."
Mutley and Pc Smith transferred from the Home Counties to the British Transport Police's London division in search of a new challenge but Mutley's days of pounding the beat are numbered.
The working life of a police dog usually spans from the age of about 18 months to nine years-old.
Safe in the knowledge he has done his bit to keep the streets of London safe he is looking forward to hanging up his harness for a well deserved retirement.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4283664.stm
Mutley sniffs out trouble on Tube
As a happy, healthy dog, Mutley should be spending his time chasing cats and fetching sticks.
But instead the eight-year-old Springer Spaniel is on the front line of London's fight against terror, in his job sniffing out explosives on the capital's transport network.
Attracting warm smiles from onlookers, the super sleuth leaves no stone unturned as he silently walks through the crowds.
And he does it not for danger money or fame, but for the love of his favourite toy - a yellow tennis ball, which he gets to play with as a reward for his hard work.
During the attempted bombings in London on 21 July, Mutley and his handler Pc Graham Smith were called directly into the danger zone after an attempted bomb attack at Warren Street .
"We had just signed on and the call came through that there had been an explosion on the Tube," said Pc Smith.
"It felt very scary but this is what you train for and you get a buzz from it."
The constable, Mutley and a second team had to ensure the area inside the police cordon was safe.
Side-by-side they worked for 12 hours, abandoning the usual regime of working for 30 minutes, then resting for 30 minutes.
The dogs are normally given a break after about half-an-hour so they do not become immune to smells or lose interest but this day proved to be far from normal.
Suitcase obsession
The BBC News website joined the duo at Paddington station, west London, as they patrolled the concourse, Heathrow Express service and the Tube.
Once the harness is on, Mutley knows it is time to go to work.
As he eyes up the passengers heading for the Heathrow Express he displays a healthy obsession with suitcases, especially blue ones.
Not one person objects as he follows them along the platform, sniffing at their heels, until he is sure all is well.
Mutley is trained to freeze and sit down a distance away from whatever he is sniffing, to indicate that something is wrong.
"Dogs can pick up the scent of something that could have been there weeks ago and has since been moved so you never quite know," said Pc Smith.
Describing the one time Mutley gave a "positive indication" Pc Smith said it was not a situation you want to find yourself in.
"We were at Luton Airport and I saw him go up to a rubbish bin. Then he sat straight down a few feet away from it and the second handler came along and his dog did exactly the same.
"Fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm but it was a very scary feeling."
It quickly becomes evident that Mutley is not only an excellent crime deterrent but also a key weapon in the fight to improve public relations.
Clearly winning in the popularity stakes, Mutley is frequently stopped by people keen to give him a friendly stroke.
Increased profile
Insp Garth Stinson, who is in charge of the counter-terrorism dogs search unit, said: "It's a great ice-breaker, especially with young people. They won't talk to us but they will approach the dogs".
Mutley laps up all the attention without any objection but Pc Smith tells me he is a changed canine.
"He never used to be bothered about people or being petted but as a result of the bombings and the increased profile he's always being stroked and he loves it now."
Mutley and Pc Smith transferred from the Home Counties to the British Transport Police's London division in search of a new challenge but Mutley's days of pounding the beat are numbered.
The working life of a police dog usually spans from the age of about 18 months to nine years-old.
Safe in the knowledge he has done his bit to keep the streets of London safe he is looking forward to hanging up his harness for a well deserved retirement.
;D ;D
