UCS College Group’s Bridgwater College is supporting Avon and Somerset Police through a collaborative training initiative involving specialist police dog teams.
As part of the partnership, the college is providing a range of on-site environments to support the ongoing development of police dogs and their handlers. These controlled training exercises will help enhance the dogs’ ability to locate hidden items in realistic settings, contributing to their progression towards operational readiness. 
The training sessions involve six police dog handlers, including a lead instructor, working alongside five cocker spaniel police dogs. The dogs are currently in training and are developing their skills in preparation for future policing duties.
Training activities will be taking place across various areas of the College grounds, including motor vehicle workshops and cars, unused lockers, the Student Union, the Community Hub, office spaces, as well as outdoor areas such as quads and green spaces.
Jane Irons, Assistant Principal for Student Experience, said: “We are pleased to support Avon and Somerset Police with this important initiative. It is a valuable opportunity for our students to gain a greater understanding of the role that police officers and their dogs play within our communities. We are committed to ensuring students feel safe, informed and reassured, and this partnership helps to build awareness in a positive and engaging way.”
Inspector Ricki Lippiatt added: “Our police dogs are an incredible asset for Avon and Somerset Police. They help us keep the public safe and support investigations to track down offenders on a daily basis.
“All our police dogs go through a comprehensive training programme before they can deployed on operational duty.
“We are really grateful to Bridgwater College for allowing us access to their facilities to train these wonderful animals.”
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