New Four-Legged Recruit Joins Kent Police to Boost Mental Health
Kent Police has welcomed a very special new team member to the force – Honey, a springer spaniel with a unique mission. She’s not here to sniff out crime but to sniff out stress, offering much-needed comfort to officers and staff battling the pressures of their tough jobs.
Honey: The Calm in the Storm
Honey is Kent’s first wellbeing and trauma support dog, loaned by the national Oscar Kilo 9 (OK9) network which supplies wellbeing dogs nationwide. Her role? To provide a calming presence after traumatic incidents. Honey’s handler is a community policing volunteer, and she’s already spread cheer in police stations from Canterbury to Ashford and Maidstone.
She is called in for emotional support, especially for frontline officers and 999 call handlers who regularly face distressing situations. Just a few minutes with Honey can offer vital relief amid the chaos of police work.
Why Police Need Pups Like Honey
“Policing is a challenging and demanding job that can frequently lead to stressful, upsetting, and sometimes disturbing situations,” said PC Martyn Tulk, leader of the Community Policing Volunteer Canine team. “When a dog is brought into the workplace, the interactions can provide much-needed light relief.”
“We hope Honey’s presence will help our officers and staff open up about issues affecting their mental health and wellbeing.”
Part of a Growing National Movement
The OK9 network boasts over 100 accredited wellbeing and trauma support dogs working with police forces, fire, and rescue services across the UK. These dogs’ handlers are trained in mental health first aid and use their own experiences to help spot the signs of distress and guide officers to professional support.
Kent Police also uses other volunteer therapy dogs to help with mental health issues, support vulnerable people, and assist in child-focused policing, proving that sometimes the best support is furry and four-legged.
