PDU 60th Anniversary Series
PDU goes from strength to strength

2 Photos

Three police dogs, Flame handled by Senior Police Constable (SPC) Lau Man-long, Major by SPC Lo Kai-chung, and Wai Chai by Police Constable Leung Wai-man, were presented with the "Outstanding Canine Service Award" at an open competition on November 21.

Earlier on November 15, another three police dogs, Joe II handled by Sergeant (SGT) Chow Shing-hing, Exon by SGT Cheng Lung-lick, and Flora by SPC Wu Kim-wing, clinched the "Hong Kong Outstanding Animal Grand Prize".

These awards symbolised wide recognition of the contribution of police dogs, in both policing work and social services.

Establishment and development of PDU

In 1949 when it became apparent that dogs would be useful in policing the Border Area, the Police Dog Unit (PDU) was formed. Four German Shepherd patrol dogs were purchased and a professional trainer was recruited. These dogs were used solely in the New Territories under the Emergency Unit, and were kennelled in Fan Gardens located at the old New Territories Police Depot, Fanling.

After the scheme was proved successful, a decision was made to expand the PDU and establish a headquarters at the Pat Heung Police Station in 1956. In the meantime, smaller kennels were gradually built in other police stations and dog patrol was gradually extended to outside the Border. In 1964, the PDU headquarters was further re-located to Ping Shan Police Station. There it stayed until 1995 when it was re-located to the former British Army Queen's Hill Camp, Fanling.

In 2001 the PDU moved to its Provisional Headquarters to Cheung Yip Street in Kowloon Bay and at the end of 2003, the PDU finally moved into its new headquarters in Sha Ling in the North District. Apart from purpose-built kennels, the new PDU headquarters is complete with medical and surgical facilities for police dogs, plus indoor and outdoor training areas. The extensive ground allows all Dog Handlers and their dogs to undergo the widest possible range of the latest training techniques. With only four police dogs when it first started, the PDU has developed into a mature unit with more than 100 police dogs in active service today.

Types of dog

Like police dog units elsewhere, the fledgling PDU consisted mainly of German Shepherds. They are loyal, brave and their martial bearing is a great asset to policemen on the beat. In recent years, Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers are used in searches for explosives and narcotics because of their superior sense of smell compared with other breeds. The same Labradors are also used in tracking crime scenes, their "secondary duties".

In recent years, the PDU has recruited Belgium Shepherds (also known as Malinois) as police dogs. The Malinois breed is a medium-sized dog slightly smaller than German Shepherds with greater agility. Apart from being loyal and friendly, they are also very intelligent, highly obedient and easy to train, thus becoming popular as working dogs nowadays.

The PDU has been very successful in explosives search operations and was awarded the CP's Unit Commendion after the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events. Next year, the PDU is going to train patrol dogs to sniff out drugs. If this initiative works, the patrol dogs will become "mobile drug detectors". Training will take time and it is hoped that 16 dogs would be trained.

In the next issue, OffBeat will feature PDU officers' observations and feelings about their jobs.

Winners of the "Outstanding Canine Service Award" with their handlers

Police Constable Leung Wai-man and his partner, Wai Chai
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