The latest cohort of police dog school is ready to hit the streets.

After showing they have what it takes to protect our county during their basic training course, the canine cops and their human handlers are primed for deployment.

Police Dogs McCoy and Tygo are two general purpose dogs who are trained to follow their noses to track and search for suspects and missing people.

The German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois will also be deployed alongside their handlers PC Luke Gamman and PC Ian Turner to detain suspects and to keep the public order.

PC Jim Beaird, the general purpose course instructor, said: “Both teams underwent, in my opinion, one of the most physically and mentally demanding courses in the police.

"They have worked extremely hard throughout the course and have consequently passed to a high standard with their dogs.

"They underwent additional operational training at the end of the course with PC Gary Lambert, another police dog instructor and now both teams are fully prepared for life on the streets of Essex.”

Police Dogs Poppy and Dano are two of the force's newest search dogs to be deployed across the county alongside their handlers Sgt Gould and PC Adam Bowden.

Labrador Poppy and Springer Spaniel Dano will sniff out cash, drugs and weapons.

Dano will be hitting the streets of Essex while Poppy will be keeping passengers and staff safe at Stansted Airport.

Police Dogs Chip and Dougie are due to start their new lives as search dogs.

The former strays came to Essex Police from the Dogs Trust in Basildon after volunteer police officer, SC Colin Moy, saw the potential in them and put them through their paces on the suitability course. Labrador Dougie and mixed breed Chip will be on the lookout for cash, drugs and weapons alongside their handlers PC Michael Magin and PC Luke Pitchford.

PC Andy Gaw, the search dog course instructor, said: “The six police dogs and their handlers have been put through their paces during their basic training course and have worked hard to reach a high standard.

“Seeing Chip and Dougie pass was fantastic as they both showed the right attributes to become police dogs on the very first day.

£It’s great for them to be given a new lease of life, they are happy confident search dogs doing a job they love.

£I wish the teams all the best in their new role and look forward to hearing about their successes.”