Nottinghamshire-based regional fire investigation dog unit celebrate one year as a team, with 200 incidents and 17 open days attended
Today (November 7) marks the first anniversary of the Nottinghamshire regional fire investigation dog unit, made up of two dogs and their handlers.
Dave Coss and Ginny, and Tim Marston and Barney, and formerly Dexter who has since retired, have been working together as a team for one year, during which time they have attended 200 incidents to assist investigations.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said it is proud of the contribution the dogs and their handlers make to investigating fires and securing convictions for offenders.
Over the past year, the fire investigation dog unit have assisted tier two fire investigations throughout the East Midlands and beyond.
As part of a joint investigation team with police and crime scene investigation colleagues, the unit has played its part by securing sufficient evidence resulting in over 109 years’ worth of combined custodial sentences for arsonists within the East Midlands region and Staffordshire, and assisting as far afield as Hereford and Worcester, the West Midlands, and Northamptonshire.
They have also successfully qualified three new dogs within the year including Barney, Ginny, and Giddy for West Midlands Fire Service, and Tim and Dave are responsible for running regional tier one fire investigation course with over 130 fire personnel having attended, or are due to attend, the two-day course during 2023.
Residents may have seen the dog duo out and about as they have attended 17 open days throughout the region this year to promote fire safety awareness, or even on TV as the team has been part of BBC Crimewatch twice this year.
They’ve also attended National Fire Investigation Dog Handler’s Association, in which Tim holds a committee position, training events as far afield as Bournemouth and the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire.
