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NTIPDU Director of
Research & Development, Richard Timmis proactively seeks the
involvement of the regulator and government.
Since my letter appeared
in the Professional Security magazine, I have received both negative and
positive feedback, a lot of
support, agreeing with my comments, and just two negative responses.
As an employer and a
licensed front line operative within the industry, I stand by everything
said in the article, because I feel passionate about the dog sector and
the outcome of interference by people who do not know or
understand
the civilian sector.
After receiving comments
from a fellow member of the SIDCG (Security Industry Dog Consultation
Group),
I feel I have to clarify
the matter. I whole heartedly support both ACPO and the other services
regarding dog handling standards, I also support the people who have
attended the SIDCG meetings without fail, but not those who have sat on
the sidelines. However, I still feel very disillusioned about the lack
of support from both the SIA and the Skills for Security.
At the end of the day,
our sector will always be undermined by the ‘not so professionals’
giving handlers easy options making it hard for us to uphold standards,
this sadly will always take place if licensing is not brought in and
enforced. If a handler wants to
advance to Police Dog standards and he/she and the dog are both capable
of the advancement, in order to be
employed by the Police or Services the opportunities are available
within the NTIPDU.
For handlers who do not
wish for advancement or do not feel their dog is capable and want
to maintain their standing as Security
Dog Handlers, there has to be a starting point, hence the NTIPDU Basic
Dog Handlers course. If these people do not have a choice they will be
lost from the industry, at this particular time we cannot afford a loss
in man power.
If it becomes a
requirement that all Security Dogs and Handlers, without exception, have
to be trained to Police Dog Standards, who informs the handlers already
in the system that their dog is not good enough so they’ll either have
to re home it or put it to sleep.
As stated before, my
concerns are for those dogs and handlers in the industry only wishing or
able to attain basic standards,
will these be lost from the industry? or will there be a place for them?
What ever the answers
are, there is still a lot of room for improvement throughout the sector.
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