A new litter of eight police puppies from West Midlands Police has been given names inspired by England's Three Lions football squad. The Belgian Malinois pups, born last month, are part of the force's police puppy development scheme, based in Balsall Common, and are being trained to become fully operational police dogs.
The eight-strong litter includes puppies named Jude, Nico, Declan, Saka, Ezri, and Jordan, honouring some of the nation's well-known footballing figures. Aston Villa player Morgan Rogers received a double tribute, with two puppies being named after both his first and last names, completing the set.
West Midlands Police expressed their hope that these future canine officers will mirror the success of their human namesakes, particularly in their ability to 'tackle' suspects. The force indicated a desire to contribute to the positive national mood surrounding the ongoing European Championship tournament, noting that the puppies are 'chasing the ulti-mutt dream of becoming champions' in their own right.
Inspector Rachel Crump, head of the police dog unit, highlighted the qualities expected of the dogs. "We want our police dogs to be committed, courageous and to show off their abilities, which is something we all hope the England players will be able to do this summer," she stated. Crump added that while the new pups have significant reputations to uphold, the unit is confident they will develop into stars in crime-fighting and public safety.
The intensive training programme aims for the dogs to become fully operational within the next 18 months. Their duties will encompass a range of vital policing tasks, from tracking and apprehension to searching for evidence and missing persons, playing a crucial role in supporting front-line officers across the West Midlands region.
Source: West Midlands Police