Detection dogs

Editorial: Grant Condon

Photography: Scott McNaughton

They’re an elite team renowned for their specialised tools like remote-controlled robots, diagnostic equipment and armoured protective suits.

But the Bomb Response Unit’s (BRU) latest ground-breaking pieces of equipment don’t have robotic arms or the ability to see through solid objects — they have four legs, coats of fur and, most importantly, unrivalled noses for explosives.

In March this year, two Belgian Malinois, Bomber and Bronx, joined the ranks of Victoria Police’s BRU as Explosive Detection Dogs (EDDs).

Like any person that wears the Victoria Police uniform, they have one working purpose — to keep Victorians safe. And they do that by providing the BRU with an improved state-wide rapid response capability.

As Acting Senior Sergeant Christian Wake explained, the dogs are the BRU’s fastest tool when it comes to assessing suspicious packages or potential explosives.

“The dogs have the ability to operate off-lead, so they can approach a suspicious item in a cordoned area without a handler and provide initial assessments within minutes of arriving at a scene,” A/Sen Sgt Wake said.

“They’re part of the BRU’s Bomb Assessment Team, which provides a rapid response to Melbourne’s CBD during peak times, but they are also available 24/7 to support frontline police and investigative units across the state for anything that might arise, or for planned operations like search warrants.”

Already, Bomber and Bronx are cutting down the time it takes for the BRU to resolve incidents.

Earlier this year, the emergency department of a major Melbourne hospital was forced to close after a threat was received indicating a bomb was in a car parked outside.

With one of the EDDs responding to the call-out and searching the suspect vehicle, the BRU was able to determine that the threat was a hoax and the car was cleared within an hour. It was a job that would normally take hours to resolve.

“The BRU’s other procedures, such as deploying robots, take a significant amount of time due to obstacles that might be present like stairs and doors. Now, our EDDs can deploy at any scene, commence detection and can give us an almost instant indication as to if explosives are present,” A/Sen Sgt Wake said.

“If the indication is given, then we roll out all the equipment and go through our procedures. The EDD handlers are also trained bomb technicians and this allows the BRU response to be more agile and flexible. The ability to assess more rapidly means we can begin re-opening the scene to the public or police.”

That speed and flexibility is particularly important in the counter terrorism environment, which can see the BRU operating in busy or crowded locations, like sport stadiums or train stations.

Belgian Malinois Bomber and Bronx are now working with the Victoria Police Bomb Response Unit as Explosives Detection Dogs. The pair complements the unit's array of high-tech gadgets and expert bomb technicians.

“It’s been suggested to us that to close and cordon off a part of the CBD can cost millions per hour, so if long shutdowns or delays can be avoided and we can still make clear assessments and keep people safe, that’s a good thing,” A/Sen Sgt Wake said.

While the dogs act fast, none of the BRU’s trademark methodical, careful and accurate operational nature has been lost, nor has the advanced technology.

“We’ve imprinted the dogs with a wide range of odours commonly associated with commercial, pyrotechnic or homemade explosives,” A/Sen Sgt Wake said.

“This means we can accurately detect a greater range of the most common ingredients than ever before and overcome methods used to try and conceal explosives.

“When they’re working in the field, our dogs have the potential to wear a protective harness with a camera attached so we can see everything they see from our command post.”

The operation and training model used for the BRU’s EDDs is the same as that used by the Australian Defence Force Special Forces teams. Victoria Police is also the first police jurisdiction in Australia to embed EDDs within a bomb response unit, with the dogs’ first deployment in March marking the finish line of a comprehensive 10-year research, testing, evaluation and training process.

“Out of a shortlist of more than 30 dogs, Bomber and Bronx were the only ones to graduate,” A/Sen Sgt Wake said.

“And they have been trained to work in a huge range of environments that can challenge their senses — everything from boats at sea and aeroplanes in the air, to shopping centres with escalators and elevators.”

Bomber and Bronx’s deployment with the BRU means the unit takes over the explosive detection capability from Victoria Police’s Dog Squad, which has been responsible for explosives detection since the 1980s. The shift will allow the Dog Squad to enhance other detection capabilities such as locating narcotics and firearms.

While Bomber and Bronx undertook a thorough training regime, so too did the bomb technicians who handle them.

Leading Senior Constable Andrew* has worked for Victoria Police for 20 years, 16 of which have been with the BRU as a bomb technician. He’s now the primary handler for three-year-old Bomber.

“Working with the dogs isn’t like anything else I’ve done with Victoria Police,” he said.

“I’ve had a few deployments with Bomber already and he’s meeting every expectation.

“It’s quite an intricate process.

"You work with the dog and look for changes in their body language, some will be subtle, and some are really clear. If they have isolated a target odour, they won’t break from that odour until we instruct them to.”

When working with explosives, trust is everything and Ldg Sen Const Andrew said he and his BRU colleagues have enormous trust in their four-legged teammates.

“He’s transitioned into the team really well and everyone just sees him as another operator in the team,” he said.

“Of course, the dogs are very well looked after. While they’re working dogs, we need to really care for them. They're an extremely expensive asset for Victoria Police and are treated as such.”

Superintendent Peter Ward said the introduction of the EDDs to the BRU will greatly assist in keeping Victorians safe.

“It’s exciting that Victoria Police is at the cuttingedge of the use of EDDs,” Supt Ward said.

“The integration will enhance response times and contribute to a reduction in the time taken to resolve incidents.

“Most Victorians will probably never get to see these dogs in action, but rest assured they’re out there with the members of the BRU around the clock, working in potentially dangerous situations to protect all of us from harm. We’re lucky to have them.”