Four newly-trained police dogs are set to help tackle crime across Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties after officially joining the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit.

PD Murphy, PD Madden, PD Dixon and PD Muzza completed an intensive 13-week training course before graduating at a special ceremony held at Hertfordshire Constabulary headquarters earlier this month.

The dogs and their handlers – Sergeant Dan Amos, PC Dale Jenkins, PC Josh Westgate and PC Liam Mandrell – demonstrated their new skills in front of guests before being formally presented with certificates.

During the course, the dogs were trained in scent tracking, searching, obedience, agility, chasing and detaining suspects.

Two of the dogs were named in memory of former officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Armed Policing Unit who died last year.

PD Muzza honours former PC Paul Murray, who served for 24 years, while PD Murphy was named after Sergeant Dan Murphy, who began his policing career as a cadet at just 16 years old before rising through the ranks to Sergeant.

Family members of both officers attended the ceremony and were presented with commemorative plaques.

Chief Superintendent Jon Hutchinson paid tribute to the two officers during the event, praising their professionalism, commitment to public service and dedication to protecting communities across the three counties.

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The breeders of PD Dixon were also invited to the ceremony and received a certificate recognising their contribution to police dog breeding.

Police dogs play a major role in frontline policing, helping officers search for suspects, recover evidence and locate missing people.

Chief Inspector Declan McDonagh, head of the BCH Dog Unit, said he was "incredibly proud" to welcome the four new dogs to the team.

He added: "The training course is intense, and the handlers and their respective families invest considerable time and effort into developing the dogs and successfully achieving their accreditations. I am very much looking forward to watching them develop in their operational roles."