THERE is no better feeling than catching a criminal purely thanks to a police dog’s determination and abilities, says one dog handler.

PC Tony Mayo, who has worked for Essex Police for the last 23 years, came to the dog section more than ten years ago after working in response teams.

He makes up one of 18 dog handlers in the section, which is based in Sandon, and is tasked with training and being responsible for police dogs Will and Katie, who are used for searching and tracking criminals.

The dog section offers cover to the whole of the county and can help with firearms operations, drugs searches, tracking scents from burglaries and general patrol.

Mr Mayo’s role consists of going out on proactive patrol, and responding to calls to support local officers where there is a need for a police dog.

He said the best part of his job was seeing the dogs really make a difference and help catch peopleofficers otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

He said: “The buzz you get from catching someone and the only reason you have caught them is because of the dog tracking is the best part of the job.

“I remember one job in June where there had been a burglary at a B&Q and a Maplins electronic store.

“One of the burglars got caught fairly quickly by local officers and then we turned up. Within five minutes, Will had tracked from the roundabout, crossed the road and went left at first.

“He stopped and that’s where they had hidden the cash boxes. Then he back tracked and we went up another road.

“We were running through dense bushes in the pitch black. We have just got to go with them.

“I kept falling and I had to keep pulling myself up again.

“Then he started circling at the bottom of a tree and sure enough, there was someone hidden up there.

“That arrest just wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Will’s skill.”

In September, two men admitted three counts of burglaries at Basildon Crown Court. They were each jailed for three years.

Mr Mayo said police dogs need to have the right sort of temperament and attitude to make it in the force.

He said: “You get some dogs that are scared of their own shadow or too aggressive.

“Our training is reward-based, sometimes for food but mainly for toys.

“Everything they do is so they can get back to the base and have a massive game with us.

“The dogs absolutely love it. They bust a gut to please you and go to work so they can have a game with you.

“They need to be focused on having a game and playing. The goal needs to be playing with the ball or toy.

“I absolutely love my job, this is the last of the best jobs that there is.

“Because we don’t have an active workload, we are able to get out there and dedicate ourselves to catching people and being able to use the dogs to do that.

“To be in the dog unit, you have got to be motivated to go that extra mile.

“It doesn’t matter if you are wet, covered in mud and have to climb over fences, you have to do it to catch criminals.”