DEVON and Cornwall Police currently has 65 serving police dogs, according to information released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

The force has 45 police dog handlers, with the Police Dogs Department costing £3.54 million during the 2025/26 financial year, including police officer pay, the FOI request shows.

Dog handlers undertake canine first aid training, with refresher courses provided every two years.

General patrol dogs are typically German Shepherds, while specialist detection dogs are used to search for drugs, cash, firearms, explosives and digital evidence.

The force said detection dogs include Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels and Labradors, among other breeds.

It comes as Devon & Cornwall Police appeals to the public for new locations where they can train their dogs - [email protected]