Dogs and Mounted Unit - History & Overview

PD Charlie

The City of London Police is one of the few Forces in Britain to have retained both their Dog Section and Mounted Branch and have seen them both grow and develop over the years.

We come under the remit of the Specialist Support Directorate based at Wood Street Police Station.

The Mounted Branch was first introduced to the Force in 1873, and at that time the horses were hired in from local livery stables on an ad hoc basis. Officers who had previous riding experience from military service (Lifeguards or Blues and Royals) were tasked with the job of being our first mounted officers.

In 1904 the then Commissioner, Sir William Nott-Bower, proposed that police horses should be used to draw the police ambulances, thus freeing up officers to continue with patrol. This proposal also enabled the full time creation of the Mounted Branch through funding secured for the ambulances.

Today we source our horses from around the country and can boast the first piebald (black and white) police horse in service.

There is a sharp contrast between when police dogs were first used in 1888 to track Jack The Ripper and that of today, fortunately since that time training has improved and so have the results.
The City of London Police introduced a permanent dog section during the 1950s consisting of a small number of German Shepherd dogs.
Today the unit has 10 general purpose police dogs, 8 explosive search dogs, 5 cash, drugs and weapons recovery dogs, and 3 passive drugs dogs.

Not only do the handlers have to attend and pass a selection process, but so do the dogs. Not every animal is suited to becoming a police dog and the selection criteria is based on the basic drive instincts of the animal, it’s health and temperament.

Our dogs are sourced from various locations, be that other Police service breeding programmes, private breeders or rescue homes but many of them come as gifts from owners who can no longer cope with a highly driven animal.
Most dogs begin their career with us at about a year old and work through until they are between 7 and 9 years old.

Both the Dog Section and Mounted Branch play a key role in the proactive policing of the Square Mile – and sometimes beyond!

Contact us at Wood Street ext. 020 7601 2136/2163/2164
Dog and Mounted Unit Inspector – Christopher.Rowbottom@city-of-london.pnn.police.uk