Billy, the drugs detection drug with the West Midlands Police

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' cash, drugs and firearms 
• P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police
• P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary

• Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police
• Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police

Do you work your dog?

Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show?  I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview. 

Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk.

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

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