Prestigious National Police Dog Trials heading to Wakefield

The 64th annual competition will be held in May, with members of the public invited for the final day of the contest on Saturday, May 16, which will be a free to attend family event at Nostell.

The competition involves a total of 21 police dogs and handlers from forces across the country and showcases their exceptional skills, dedication and service to public safety.

It will be held across multiple locations and sees the competitors taking part in three phases; tracking, searching and criminal work.

Superintendent Nicola Brown said: “Every day police dog units work to help keep communities safe across West Yorkshire and the country.

“Our dogs consistently demonstrate incredible results detaining dangerous offenders, finding missing and vulnerable people and recovering vital evidence from crime scenes.

“They play an important role in tackling crime and keeping people safe and we can’t wait to give the public an opportunity to see just how skilled they really are.”

The family day at Nostell will give members of the public the opportunity to watch the closing stages of the competition and enjoy demonstrations from operational police dogs, police horses and other police departments and partner agencies.

There will also be stalls and family friendly activities to enjoy. More details on how to get tickets coming soon.

Lauren Lewsley, Visitor Experience and Operations Manager at Nostell, said: “We’re really pleased to be hosting the National Police Dog Trials at Nostell.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring something new and exciting to the parkland, with plenty of action for visitors to enjoy.

“We know the event will really appeal to many of our regular parkland visitors, as well as attract people who may be visiting Nostell for the first time.

"We hope it creates a memorable day out, welcoming our local community and visitors from across the region for a fun, accessible and family-friendly event.”

West Yorkshire Police said they would like to hear from any businesses who would like to get involved by sponsoring the event. Click here for more information.