‘This is a momentous milestone for the Metro Police Department and serves as a reminder of the many initiatives we have undertaken to augment our crime prevention efforts to bolster our response to the many, and varied demands in this city.

‘We’ve seen over the years that those in the drug trade become ever more creative in trying to avoid detection and confiscation of their goods, hiding drugs in all manner of weird and wonderful places, but our canines are up to the task and I believe that this is one of many areas where the service animals have made a huge impact,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Service Animals Unit Commander, Senior Superintendent Joan Felix recalls that the unit was established in the run up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, with just 11 canines.

Fast forward ten years, and the unit boasts 25 canines who are skilled in the art of detecting narcotics, explosives, copper and metal, as well as searching for missing persons.

The unit currently has seven horses which took over from the previous group that retired in 2018.

‘The Equestrian unit conducts crime prevention patrols at large events, as the horses give officers a unique vantage point from which to look out for any criminal activity. They are also very useful in terrain not suited to vehicles, like informal settlements and mountain patrols.

‘However, the service animals also play a very important role in our social crime prevention efforts and help to establish a rapport with communities and build relationships in the fight against crime,’ added Felix.

Some of the Service Animals Unit successes in the last decade include:

• 1 899 arrests, including possession of drugs, firearm-related crimes and driving under the influence
• 24 670 fines for traffic and by-law violations
• 76 firearms and 1 146 rounds of ammunition recovered
• 36 610 units of drugs confiscated
• R522 947 in cash, confiscated
• 399 awareness sessions conducted
• 13 069 vehicles, premises and persons searched