New police dog base opens at Martlesham
A building for specialist police dogs has opened at Suffolk Constabulary's Martlesham headquarters, supporting a growing programme of dogs trained to find hidden phones, memory cards and USB devices during criminal investigations.
Why it matters: The new facility will support the expansion of the Joint Dog Section's Digital Evidence Detection Dog (DEDD) programme, which helps officers secure evidence in investigations.
The details: The new dog section building provides enhanced training facilities and operational space for specialist dog teams from Norfolk and Suffolk.
- DEDD dogs are trained to locate concealed electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, memory cards and USB storage devices.
- Each dog must complete an intensive eight-week training course in digital evidence detection before becoming operationally active.
- The dogs learn to recognise different types of device, enabling them to recover a wide range of digital technology that may contain vital evidence.
Since the first DEDD instructors qualified in 2025, six operational dogs are now working across both counties.
The dogs help to secure crucial evidence in investigations including safeguarding, serious and organised crime, violence against women and girls, and roads policing operations.
What they're saying: Inspector Gary Chapman, of the Joint Dog Section, said: "The opening of this new facility represents a significant milestone for our Dog Section and demonstrates our commitment to developing innovative capabilities that support modern policing.
"As the use of digital technology continues to grow, so does the need to identify and recover electronic devices that may contain vital evidence. Our Digital Evidence Detection Dogs provide a unique and highly effective capability that is already delivering real operational benefits across a wide range of investigations."
Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: "I've always had a fondness for the force's dog unit – it is a really important part of policing in Suffolk and much loved by the public.
"The way the team can train dogs to sniff out things like SIM cards is quite extraordinary and being able to develop that capability to go after thugs, yobs and organised crime groups is crucial."
He added: "Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies are playing an increasingly significant role in national canine capability and this joint unit will position both forces as recognised leaders in specialist canine operations."
What's next: The Joint Dog Section is also supporting ongoing national research into the future use of DEDDs, helping to advance understanding of how specialist dogs can support policing and public protection.
Chapman said the facility "will enable us to continue developing that capability, enhance training opportunities and support ongoing research into the future application of Digital Evidence Detection Dogs across policing, safeguarding and national security functions".
The bottom line: With six dogs already in action, the new Martlesham facility is the latest step for a joint unit the PCC says will position Norfolk and Suffolk as recognised leaders in specialist canine operations.
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