British HC visits Seychellois police dog handlers at UK training base |14 April 2011

The officers’ training at the Surrey Police  Dog Training School in Guildford is a project between the Seychelles Police and  the Surrey Police Service funded by the UK government and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Lance corporal Desire Boniface and police constable John Labiche are midway through an eight-week firearms and explosive detection course and corporal Jean Amice and police constable Eddie Luc have six weeks left of their general purpose, track and search training.

All the officers met their dogs, aged between 18 months and two years old and supplied by the UK Police, when they arrived in the UK at the end of March and have been training with them since then.

The dogs will return to Seychelles with their handlers.

The project is part of the wider UK government and UNODC programme to support and build Seychelles’ capacity to fight piracy.

Corporal Jean Amice said: “I worked as part of the dog team in Seychelles and so am familiar with the work but as part of the training I’ve improved what I know and  also learnt a lot of new things. What I’ve enjoyed most is building a relationship with my dog and I hope that as a team we’ll make a positive contribution to policing back in Seychelles along with my other colleagues also training.’

Surrey Police trainer Pete Greenfield said: “Dog  training is tough as you’re responsible for yourself and your dog and need to build a relationship and train him at the same time, not at first being sure that he’ll do what you want! The officers from Seychelles, though, have been enthusiastic, quick to learn and have established a good rapport with their dogs. I’m sure that when they return home, they’ll continue their hard work.”

Two more officers from the Seychelles Police will leave in May to complete a specialist narcotics course also with the Surrey Police.