The German Shepherds were bred at Northumbria Police HQ

Around 30 puppies - German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels - are being trained up for police service and should be pounding the beat in a year's time.

The German Shepherds are the fruits of a new in-house breeding programme and are set to become general purpose police dogs.

The Cocker Spaniels have been bought in from a breeder and will be used for drugs, weapons or explosive detection.

According to Inspector Ken Crossley, who heads the dog section at Northumbria Police, the German Shepherds are ideal for general police work.

Drugs, weapons or explosives

He said: "They are quite different from the dogs you see walking the beat with police officers.

"Those dogs tend not to have as much drive as the ones we've bred here. We train them with all-round police work specifically in mind."

He added: "The Cocker Spaniels are more specialised. They will be used for searching people or properties, looking for drugs, weapons or explosives.

"We bought them in from a breeder, but hopefully should be able to used them to begin our own breeding programme."

All the puppies - 17 German Shepherds and 10 Cocker Spaniels - are just beginning their training. Those that make the grade could be added to police ranks in around a year's time.