NEW police pups and their handlers are set to begin patrolling Stansted Airport after completing an eight-week course in detecting explosives.

PC Mark Webster and PC Hayley Peek and police dogs, Buddy and Holly, were presented with certificates by Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh at Essex Police Headquarters today.

The handlers were given their licences on Monday and will be on operational duties next week at what is one of the UK’s busiest airports.

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: “The security and the safety of passengers and airport staff is a key priority for our force and I’m delighted we are strengthening our team with these new additions.

“PC Mark Webster and PC Hayley Peek and police dogs, Buddy and Holly, bring a specialist and a unique set of skills to the airport to help identify criminals and disrupt criminal groups.

“Our Project Servator deployments at the airport involve a wide range of innovative tactics to help deter, disrupt and detect criminal activity. Our new additions will help build upon these tactics and bring reassurance to the thousands of people who leave and arrive at Stansted Airport every day.”

Chief Insp Richard Phillibrown, Essex Police’s deputy airport commander, said: “Buddy and Holly really are great additions to our already existing teams here at Stansted Airport.

“These latest additions show the strong partnership with have with Stansted and the airports operator, Manchester Airport Group.

“I would like to welcome PC Mark Webster and PC Hayley Peek and police dogs, Buddy and Holly, to the team and praise them all for their hard work and dedication during their training.”

Essex Police is also training another additional police dog to increase drug and cash searches at Stansted Airport with the aim of introducing them to the Project Servator team in February next year.

Project Servator is an initiative dedicated to deterring and detecting criminal and terrorist activity, as well as reassuring the general public.

It involves both uniformed and plain-clothed officers, supported by other resources such as armed officers, police dogs, a network of CCTV cameras, security staff and hundreds of retailers we work in partnership with.

Pat Hillier, Stansted Airport’s Head of Security Compliance, who attended the event, said: “I was delighted to attend today’s ceremony at Essex Police Headquarters to see Holly and Buddy receive their certificates.

“Everyone at London Stansted is looking forward to seeing them both at the airport when they begin their important role as part of Project Servator.”

For more information, visit https://www.essex.police.uk/about-us/project-servator/