Tens of thousands of pounds have been awarded to police dog handlers across the south in a bid to save more lives. 

Dog trainers working for Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Police will get £48,992 from the Police and Crime Commissioners for each area to purchase defibrillators, airway management equipment and training to deal with catastrophic bleeds. 

Handlers will often be the first on the scene of calls and therefore in a position to provide potentially lifesaving support to those in need.

Reading Chronicle:

Matthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “This scheme will provide potentially life-saving equipment and I am delighted to be able to support this additional first aid equipment to all of our dog section vehicles.

“Dog handlers attend a range of incidents and their ability to deploy this equipment when arriving on scene can make a real difference to keeping our communities safe across Thames Valley.”

Richard Taylor, Sergeant for Thames Valley and Hampshire Police Joint Operations Dog Unit, said: "The Joint Operations Unit Dog Section are extremely grateful to both Donna Jones and Matthew Barber for providing the funding to purchase this Advanced First Aid equipment.

Reading Chronicle:

“Our Dog Handlers are routinely first on scene at incidents involving serious trauma and medical episodes, and I am in no doubt that this new equipment will help save lives".