POLICE have been using sniffer dogs to teach north Kent children about how they search for drugs.

Dog handler PC Andy Hill gave years five and six at Rosherville Primary School in London Road, Northfleet, a presentation on the consequences of drugs before introducing them to sniffer dog Storm, a four-and-a-half year old Labrador.

The children watched as their teachers were lined up and one of them planted with a bag of cocaine.

PC Hill then showed how Storm would firmly sniff each person and sit down once he had found what he was looking for.

The young dog would then be rewarded with a ball to play with for finding the drugs.

PC Hill also explained the difference between the types of dog used by Kent’s 30 dog handlers.

Sniffer dogs like storm are passive and are used in various situations such as at ports, where they can be released into lorries where cargo is obstructing the view to sniff out any people or illegal substances.

Other dogs such as German Shepherds are used to intimidate offenders by barking and can be released to run after criminals who fail to stop on the command of officers.

The dogs will then bite the person’s right arm to prevent them from moving.

Head teacher Becky Stoneham said: “It’s fantastic for the children, and is a really good way of them learning.

“Teaching drugs is part of our curriculum and we would do this again.”

To enquire about having a similar session at your school, contact your local officer at kent.police.uk.