CHILDREN in Shropshire have been given the opportunity to choose the name for three future police dogs for West Mercia Police.

Alongside our Economic Crime Unit, West Mercia Police are launching a competition for primary school aged children across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Telford, to help name the new puppies.

School children aged under 12 can enter the competition, with a chance to win a visit to the dog section at the police headquarters to meet the dogs and receive a winner’s certificate and photograph.

The three new dogs are being purchased using funds that the Economic Crime Unit have taken from criminals.

Detective inspector Emma Wright, from the Economic Crime Unit, is glad the puppies have been purchased through the fund.

She said: “We are pleased that the funds our team have worked hard to remove from criminals, will now go towards buying these three new police dogs, who will help us fight crime.

“The competition is a great way to show how we use the funds recovered from crime and for local children to get involved and understand the work our police dogs do to support officers.

“We hope children will get involved and come up with some creative names for our new police pups.”

The dogs will be trained to search for cash and illegal drugs.

The first two dogs were born on Sunday, June 20 and mum, Midge, and the pups are all doing well.

They will join the force in eight weeks, while the third pup will join from another litter.

Inspector Lloyd Cresswell, from the dog training unit, is excited to welcome the new puppies in for training.

He added: “I know that the competition winners will have a fantastic day meeting the puppies and their four-legged colleagues at police headquarters. Very best of luck to all the children who enter.”

If you would like to enter the competition, send your three suggestions to digitalcommunications@westmercia.pnn.police.uk by the closing date of Tuesday, August 31.

The child's name, age and school must be included alongside the reason for the names being chosen.

The name and telephone number for a parent or guardian, who can be contacted if the entry wins, should also be included.