Three new pup recruits are now part of the police's forensic recovery team.

Belle and Gigi, both cocker spaniels, and Dixon, a springer spaniel, join three other dogs that work closely with Crime Scene Investigators to help search and locate forensic evidence such as blood.

Along with their handlers PC Lisa Riddle, PC Craig Whorlow and PC Ian Atkins, they are now fully trained after completing the eight-week course.

Chief Inspector Craig West, of Kent Police’s dog section, said: "Police dogs play a vital role in modern policing and work side-by-side with officers and staff to keep people safe and help bring offenders to justice.

"Dogs like these use their extraordinary sense of smell to track down evidence at scenes of crime, or to help locate people who may be injured and in need of our assistance.

"We just could not carry out this type of work without them, which is one of the reasons why our police dogs are held in such high regard."