DOBRYNIA. RUSSIAS GIFT TO FRANCE TO REPLACE DIESEL

Russia has shown its solidarity with the people of France in an unusual way - by donating a new puppy to carry on the memory of Diesel, the police dog killed by a suicide bomber on Wednesday.

The little puppy, called Dobrynia, has been sent to Paris by the Russian government to help 'in the fight against terrorism'.

It will be trained up to continue to vital work that Diesel, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd, was doing before she was killed in the raid on the apartment block in Saint-Denis, where Paris massacre mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud was hiding out.

Diesel, a member of the SWAT team, was sent into the building to sniff out booby traps ahead of her human colleagues - and was caught up in the explosion after the first suicide bomber blew themselves up.

The force said that 'assault and explosives' search dogs are indispensable to the work of the French anti-terror unit known as RAID. 

Diesel's death at the hands of the terrorist sparked an outpouring of sympathy from around the world - and it seems even Vladimir Putin was touched by the tale.

He ordered the tiny puppy to be sent to France, to eventually join the team of officers who had so cherished Diesel.

And for extra luck, the puppy has been given the name of one of Russia's most legendary heroes - a man who personified 'strength, love, courage and self-sacrifice'.

Dobrynya was Vladimir the Great's maternal uncle and tutor, later transformed in Russian folklore into the invincible bogatyr (hero-knight) Dobrynya Nikitich.

The Russian Interior Ministry, which shared pictures of Dobrynia on the social network site, has written to France explaining the gift.

In the letter, Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said: 'I ask you to accept from Russian's police dog handlers this shepherd puppy, who will be able to take his place in the ranks of Diesel, your dog who died doing his duty.'

Source: The Daily Mail

RUSSIA UNVEILS ITS BODY ARMOUR FOR DOGS

A Russian defence company has released a new design of body armour to keep terror-sniffing police dogs safe in the wake of the death of French police dog Diesel, who died during a police raid in Paris following the Friday 13th terror attacks.

In a new video Russian dog handler demonstrated the new design in a new video showing off the transformation from man's best friend to professionally protected police hound.

'At first, of course, the dog did not like the vest. Then gradually she realised that it was for her own good and protection,' Vladimir Khitrykh said.

'We taught her with the help of incentives. We can put the armoured vest on the dog in just one minute,' he said.

The armour has reportedly been designed by St. Petersburg-based Scientific Production Association of Special Materials (NPO), which was formed during the days of the Soviet Union as a specialist armoured materials laboratory.

The so-called 'Nord body armour' consists of two parts, protecting both the neck and chest of the brave pooch and additional armour is also available for the legs and head if required.

Mr Khitrykh said: 'We had been working together for six months. First, we trained for about two months, and then when the dog got used to me, we started to work together. We worked on The Race of Heroes. About a hundred cars went through our patrol. We were looking for explosives and engineering ammunition'.

Source: The Daily Mail

Smoky, The WW2 K9 Hero

A Yorkshire Terrier who saw action in the Pacific during World War II, Smoky was initially found in February 1944, abandoned in a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea. The dog was included in a dozen combat missions and survived more than 150 air raids. Like famous World War I veteran Stubby, Smoky used her sharp sense of hearing to warn of incoming artillery shells. One of Smoky’s most famous exploits was at a crucial airstrip in the Philippine Island of Luzon. The dog pulled a telegraph wire through a narrow 70-foot pipe, saving construction time and keeping workers and engineers safe from enemy fire. When not in harm’s way, Smoky entertained troops with a variety of tricks and self-taught antics. The dog died on February 21, 1957; she was 14 years old. Smoky’s exploits are chronicled in detail in the book Yorkie Doodle Dandy, written by her adoptive owner William A. Wynne

Source: Dogtime.com

Beloved French Police Dog Killed in War on Terror

A much-loved longtime law enforcement canine lost its life last night as members of France’s elite hostage rescue and counter-terror team known as RAID assaulted a Paris apartment safe-house containing individuals suspected of planning another attack, according to reports.

The Belgian Sheepdog named Diesel is said to have died as it made its way through an apartment building ahead of a tactical team to look for booby traps and explosives. As the dog was going about its mission a woman wearing a suicide vest and toting an AK-47 suddenly appeared, blowing herself up shortly after engaging police.

During that exchange and explosion, Diesel was killed, the BBC reports. Five members of the police team were also lightly injured during the engagement. More than 5,000 rounds of ammunition were used by police in the siege and the apartment building is so badly damaged that it could totally collapse.

Diesel was seven years old and highly trained to integrate with RAID’s teams who face some of the the most challenging tactical scenarios imaginable. The hero dog’s death has resulted in a flood of social media tributes, with the hashtags #Diesel and #JeSuisUnChien making their rounds on Twitter.

In all, two suspects were killed and seven were taken into custody. Thereare conflicting reports as to status of the supposed terror mastermind of the Friday the 13th Paris attacks and whether he was at the apartment building or not.

The attackers who were sacked by the RAID team are said to have been about to strike Charles de Gaulle International Airport and a major shopping district in central Paris.

Source of article: Foxtrot Alpha

Frinton residents pay security firm to patrol streets

Hundreds of residents in a seaside town are each paying a private security firm more than £100 a year to patrol their streets because of a lack of police.

Frinton-on-Sea in Essex has no police station but six police community support officers (PCSOs) who must travel around by bus or bike. The town of about 4,000 residents has just one pub, the Lock and Barrel, and one fish and chip shop.

Frinton’s police station closed 20 years ago and the nearest, in nearby Walton-on-the-Naze, is also set to be closed and sold by Essex police due to spending cuts. This means Frinton’s nearest station will be in Clacton-on-Sea, about 8 miles away, where the crime rate is much higher.

Police chiefs warn cuts will 'fundamentally change' policing in UK

 

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Now, the security company AGS has revealed that 300 residents pay it £2 each a week for staff to drive around the town every night between 7pm and 7am, as well as to provide an emergency phoneline – though residents call 999 if the situation is serious.

The situation has led to Essex’s police and crime commissioner, Nick Alston, voicing his concerns about a two-tier police system, as seen in countries like South Africa.

But Stephen Beardsley, the head of AGS and a former soldier, said “We have no powers – no more than the average citizen’s arrest – but for us, we are about being a deterrent.

“We want to make our presence felt to deter people from doing what they are going out to do.”

AGS employs three people who share two vehicles to carry out patrols. Each officer wears a uniform similar to that of a police officer, and a body camera.

Beardsley, 50, predicted that private security firms would become the norm. “It is a job for the police and we have a fantastic police force, but they are so overstretched it’s unbelievable,” he said.

“It must be demoralising for them to be stuck in doing paperwork, fearing for their jobs. I feel sorry for them. But there is no getting away from it; private security will be part of the norm in years to come.”

Let's move to Frinton-on-Sea, Essex

 

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In August, there were 39 crimes reported in Frinton. These included 13 violent and sexual offences and 11 instances of antisocial behaviour.

Alston said: “It is not for me to say what residents should or shouldn’t do, but I do have concerns that residents in relatively low crime areas are considering funding private security patrols.

“It has the potential to create a two-tier policing system. I would prefer that all of us who are residents in Essex pay a responsible amount for policing through our council tax.

“For example an extra 50p per week would fund an extra 300 officers in Essex working on behalf of the whole community, and not just those who can afford, and are prepared to pay considerably for private security.

“Such an increase in council tax would still mean we in Essex pay less through our council tax than the average across the English counties.”

Essex police have announced £60m in cuts over the next five years. Force bosses admit they cannot guarantee resources will be sent to low-level crime reports.

Terry Allen, a town councillor, said Frinton was split over the patrols: “There is a niche for private security, as long as they do a good job. But the concern is that this is something for the police. I know in our area, £1m of our council tax goes to Essex police and that would be enough to pay for dozens of police officers.

“As it is, we’re lucky if we see two. The result is, people are concerned about what goes on when they open their front door, that’s their priority. The government’s priority is terrorism, cybercrime and organised crime. That’s not what you think about when you’re in your home.”

Atricle Source: Mail Online