The reintroduction of Police dogs is not off the table.
Commissioner of Police Mark Payne says a K9 programme is under consideration, but financial and logistical challenges mean drones will continue to serve as the primary search and rescue tool in the interim.
He said while police dogs can also be valuable in search operations, drones currently provide a cost-effective solution capable of covering large areas quickly.
Commissioner Payne was responding to questions, on the “What’s on Your Mind” radio programme, about the implementation of cadaver and sniffer dogs.