A dog specially trained to sniff out digital storage data devices which could be harbouring child abuse images has been used for the first time by Essex Police.

A team of specialist officers and a digital dog carried out a raid at a home as part of an on-going investigation into the suspected downloading of child abuse imagery.

As part of a continued crackdown targeting those suspected of downloading, taking and distributing indecent images of children online, specialist officers executed a warrant at an address in Anchor Lane, Canewdon on September 13.

In a first for Essex Police the team had the help of a specialist digital dog, 18 month old Springer Spaniel Tweed, from Devon and Cornwall Police.

Tweed is trained to sniff out digital storage data devices. She has been operational since May and is one of just two dogs in the UK trained as a digital dog. The other is Labrador Rob who is also with Devon and Cornwall Police. The pair are the only dogs outside of the USA to be trained in this way.

Guided by her handler, Pc Martin King, Tweed’s nose led our officers to a number of devices. Each item was seized to be forensically examined whilst enquiries are ongoing.

Pc Jan Simpson led the warrant, she said: “Each time an indecent image of a child is downloaded or distributed the child is being exploited all over again.

“We will not tolerate those committing this heinous crime and, using all the tools available to us including specialist resources such as Tweed, we will continue to root out those committing these offences and bring them to justice.

“If you are taking, viewing, downloading or distributing indecent images of children, then it is only a matter of time before you can expect us to knock on your door.

“We are very grateful to Devon and Cornwall Police for allowing Tweed to provide invaluable support.”

In November last year, police established a team of specialist officers to target those downloading, taking and distributing indecent images of children. The team of extra officers work alongside and in support of our existing specialist Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (CAIT).

So far the team have executed more than 40 warrants, arrested 43 people and charged more than 30. As a result the additional crackdown will be extended for another six months until March 2018.

Specialist officers were joined on their warrant by Special Constable Rosie Finnis who has volunteered her time to assist in a number of warrants with the team as well as with our POLIT officers.