Crime Fighters

It surprises me at times the number of articles either online or in the Press that are crime related. It seems that you can’t go a whole page or a thumb scroll on your phone without coming across a story reporting a crime. Stating the obvious we should all be extra vigilant when it comes to sniffing out crime. **Unless of course you are a criminal that is** The phrase “sniffing out crime” is a quite intentional pun for want of a better phrase. More on this later. The role of being observant and diligent crime fighters nowadays is not necessarily confined to our fine “boys (and girls) in blue”.

For our part we could all be more aware of what’s going on around us in terms of things like suspicious activities in our own streets and such like. Nothing overly heroic mind where lives are at stake for instance.

But beyond our own role in being crime fighters, what about these crime fighters with a difference.

Crime Fighters With A Difference

Willow-One of our brave canine crime fighters. Photo provided by the Chester Chronicle.

Now you will see how the phrase “sniffing out crime” is relevant. Take a bow….or a bow wow…our two intelligent and courageous pooches Willow and Ted. Who are Willow and Ted exactly? Take a seat and I’ll tell you. Go on….I said….”SIT!!”

Don’t worry this post won’t be full of ‘doggy’ jokes. Life’s a bitch as it is sometimes – so you don’t need a plethora of corny, dog jokes as well. I’d have to be barking mad if I continued down the route of poochy quips.

Right, so Willow and Ted. They have recently been on an adventure that saw them sniff out a whole stash of illegal cigarettes while working alongside the local council’s trading team. No walkie-talkies for them. Just plenty of walkies and a good, well trained nose.

The counterfeit or contraband cigarettes discovered were recently found in two premises in Chester and Northwich. All exciting stuff for our canine heroes. The stashes were found concealed in wall cavities behind a mirror and a cupboard.

Wagtail UK

Our brave, furry crime fighters were provided by a company called Wagtail UK. They loyally worked alongside police and council officers in helping to detect the illegal packages.

I’m not a smoker (actually I’m an ex-smoker – last ciggy, 1st February 1982. Us ex-smokers can be a right pain can’t we?), so I’m not fully au fair as to how much ciggies cost. I do know they are not cheap though.

By the way, a packet of 20 Embassy was 92p back when I packed in. And I collected the blue coupons. Who didn’t!! Five coupons in a packet of 20 and two coupons in a pack of 10. Back then most smokers I know were either Embassy smokers (the more traditional red packet or the blue Regal), or Players No 6. If you were really flush and wanted to ‘treat’ yourself, then a packet of Benson and Hedges. They were posh!!

Anyway I digress. With the cost of ciggies nowadays it isn’t difficult to see why smokers turn to more suspect, dodgy, alternative cigarette suppliers. I imagine it is big business.

The seizures by our doggy super sleuths were cigarettes that were not in standard packaging. They also failed to display the required health warnings in English. As a result they cannot be legally sold in the UK. Consequently therefore, that’s why they were stashed in wall cavities no doubt.

Health Issues

As well as falling foul of the necessary legal requirements, smokers may well be wise enough to be aware of the potential health issues. I know smoking legal cigarettes are not exactly healthy either, but these dodgy offerings may well be full of all sorts of ingredients that compound the adverse health issues. Worth considering maybe.

These illegal activities however has enabled intrepid doggies like Willow and Ted to become bona fide crime fighters. It has been well recognised that tobacco detection dogs are valued members of the Regulatory Services team. Dogs like Willow and Ted can easily sniff out tobacco even if they are considered to be well hidden.

Congratulations and well done to super crime fighters Willow and Ted. I hope they were suitably rewarded with the odd treat or two after their sterling work. I’m sure they were.

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