In recent months, police forces across both Australia and the United Kingdom have showcased the remarkable effectiveness of canine units in tackling crime, from property offences in Queensland to major drug busts in Bristol. These operations have not only led to significant arrests and seizures, but also highlighted the unique bond between officers and their four-legged partners—and the crucial role these animals play in keeping communities safer.
In Townsville, Queensland, a sweeping surge by the Queensland Police Service has resulted in the arrest of 596 adults and 125 juveniles, with a staggering 2,135 charges laid. These charges range from property and drug offences to weapons violations, reflecting a determined effort to clamp down on a wave of burglaries, home invasions, robberies, and car thefts that have unsettled the community. According to Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd, the operation has been ongoing since August 9, 2025, with a specific focus on Serious Repeat Offenders (SROs) in North and Far North Queensland.
“The main reason we are targeting mainly our property crime offenders is that we know if they are locked up and in custody as soon as possible, then there are less houses getting broken into and less cars getting stolen, which hopefully makes the community feel safer,” Detective Inspector Shepherd explained, as reported by local news outlets. His comments reflect a strategy based on swift intervention: by getting repeat offenders off the streets, police believe they can significantly curb the cycle of crime.
Recent breakthroughs have underscored the operation’s success. On Monday, September 15, two priority property crime offenders were apprehended. One, a 14-year-old girl found hiding on Palm Island, was charged with ten offences, including five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. In a separate incident, a 17-year-old male was arrested by the State Flying Squad and charged with entering premises and breaching bail. Police opposed bail when he appeared in court the following day, September 16.
“It’s very noticeable; some nights we’ve had no cars stolen and then others times we have one that we can focus on and because our priority property crime is so short now we have the time to actually get out there and locate these people,” Shepherd noted. The impact is measurable: stolen car and break-and-enter crimes are down compared to the same period last year, a trend that has brought a sense of relief to residents and business owners alike.
Central to this success has been the Townsville Dog Squad, whose canine officers—Zorko, Uzi, Blitz, Dash, Gunner, and Drago—have played a pivotal role in tracking and apprehending offenders. These dogs, alongside specialist drug and firearms detection dogs Butters and Fern, are trained to operate in a variety of environments, from rural properties to urban dwellings and vehicles. “With the help of our police dogs, we are able to track offenders who flee from crime scenes, hold them accountable and keep the community safe,” Shepherd said, giving a nod to the unique skill set these animals bring to the force.
The Dog Squad works hand-in-paw with other units, including the Tactical Crime Squad, Polair, and General Duties officers, ensuring a coordinated response to both rural and urban crime. Their efforts, according to police, have contributed directly to the reduction in property crime and the apprehension of high-priority suspects.
Meanwhile, across the globe in East Bristol, UK, a dramatic drug bust on August 6, 2025, further demonstrated the value of canine officers in modern policing. On that day, police dog PD Raven and her handler, PC Harry Lewis, were called in after plainclothes officers observed a suspected drug deal in an area known for anti-social behaviour and drug supply. The suspect, 41-year-old Kemar Lewis of Kensington Park, Easton, was eventually found outside his home and arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.
After an initial search of the property yielded no results, PC Lewis and PD Raven took over. “Raven and I worked our way through the downstairs and some of the bedrooms and kitchen. I then took her to an area under the stairs where she has shown an immediate change of behaviour, which led me to believe there was something concealed,” PC Lewis recounted. This subtle cue from Raven proved critical: after officers lifted the floorboards, they discovered a cache of drugs and cash with a combined street value of nearly £200,000.
The haul included heroin worth £55,000, crack cocaine valued at £58,500, cannabis worth almost £1,800, and a cutting agent or mix valued at around £50,000. In addition, officers seized £16,475 in paper money and almost £8,650 in coins. Kemar Lewis pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court on September 12, 2025, to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, class B drugs, and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with £25,000 forfeited to the courts.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Tom Tooth praised the operation, stating, “This positive result follows some brilliant proactive work carried out by our neighbourhood officers in East Bristol – who make up the additional resources put in by the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – after we received intelligence and feedback about areas of interest for anti-social behaviour and drug crime.” He emphasized the impact of drugs on the community, particularly around Stapleton Road in Easton, and the importance of proactive efforts to tackle open drug supply in public places.
“Through this operation, we have been able to take a large amount of drugs off the illegal market, hopefully giving local residents some reassurance that we are focussing on the harms caused by drug use and drug crime,” Tooth added. The case of PD Raven, a specialist search dog who joined the force after being rescued from a shelter, illustrates not only the adaptability of police dogs but also their indispensable value in uncovering concealed evidence that might otherwise go undetected.
Both the Queensland and Bristol cases highlight a broader trend in law enforcement: the increasing reliance on canine units as both deterrents and active participants in crime detection and prevention. From sniffing out hidden weapons and narcotics to tracking fleeing suspects, these dogs are more than just mascots—they are vital members of the policing team, often making the difference between a breakthrough and a missed opportunity.
As communities continue to grapple with the challenges of property crime, drug trafficking, and anti-social behaviour, the stories from Townsville and Bristol serve as compelling reminders of the power of partnership—between human officers, their canine counterparts, and the communities they serve. In the ongoing fight against crime, sometimes the keenest nose is the one closest to the ground.