Two men with knives and a thief are no match for police dog Nico

The dog support unit was called to three incidents around the Cannock area within five hours.

Pc Rich Burkin and his dog Nico were first called just before 11.30pm on May 12 to a man was threatening to harm himself with a knife in a residential street in Cannock.

They worked with officers to engage with the man and persuade him to drop the weapon. They were able to safely detain the man and he was taken to a place of safety for medical treatment.

At around 12.25am the duo were called to another incident involving a man with a knife in High Street, Chasetown.

After officers were threatened, Nico and Pc Birkin helped bring the 40-year-old man under control. He was charged with possession of a knife in a public place and is set to appear before magistrates at Cannock on June 3.

Then at 4.10am, there were reports of a man acting suspiciously in Cardigan Place, Cannock. It was later found that a nearby business premises had been broken into. After searching the area Pc Birkin and Nico tracked down the suspect, along with suspected stolen property and he was arrested.

Carl Morgan, 41, of Highland Road, Cannock, was charged with burglary and put before magistrates at Cannock where he admitted the offence. The case has been adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

Inspector Chris Dawson, of the Tactical Support Department, said: "These incidents show what a fundamental role our dog handlers and their canine colleagues play in policing the streets of Staffordshire.

"Each situation is different and must be handled sensitively according to the information available to us. Our officers often deal with emotional or distressed individuals and we must work together carefully to prevent them harming themselves or others.

"Our police dogs are pivotal in defusing these situations and are a less lethal option in comparison to taser or firearms support. It is a common misconception that our dogs are always used to physically detain people when actually a lot of the time it is simply their presence which allows us to safely make an arrest.

"Pc Birkin and Nico have been together for nearly three years now and in that time they've gained a lot of experience attending various incidents around the county. They are highly valued members of our Tactical Policing Team and their work on this particular shift gives an insight into how they contribute to dealing with what matters to the public of Staffordshire."