Meet Honey: Kent Police’s New Four-Legged Mental Health Hero
Kent Police has brought in a special new recruit to boost officers’ wellbeing – and she’s not your typical police dog. Honey, a friendly springer spaniel, is the force’s first wellbeing and trauma support dog. Her mission? To calm and comfort officers and staff dealing with stressful and traumatic situations.
Not a Police Dog, But a Vital Ally
Honey isn’t trained to chase criminals. Instead, she belongs to a community policing volunteer and was supplied by the national Oscar Kilo 9 (OK9) network, which introduces wellbeing dogs to police forces across the UK.
She’s available to visit specific teams or individuals who need a mental boost – like front-line officers facing tough incidents or 999 call handlers tackling distressing calls. Honey’s calming presence offers a few precious moments of relief in a demanding job.
She’s already been lending a paw at police stations in Canterbury, Ashford, and Maidstone.
Why Dogs Are Changing Policing
“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 make it easier for our officers and staff to talk openly about issues affecting their mental health and wellbeing.”
The OK9 network now boasts over 100 accredited wellbeing and trauma support dogs. These dogs support not only police forces but also fire and rescue services across the country. Their handlers are trained in mental health first aid and use their own experiences to help colleagues open up, listen, and find proper support.
More Than Just Honey: Therapy Dogs on Duty
Honey isn’t the only canine in Kent Police working behind the scenes. The force also employs volunteer therapy dogs to assist with issues ranging from mental health support to aiding vulnerable individuals and child-centred policing.
These furry companions are playing a vital role in transforming the wellbeing culture within British policing – one wag at a time.
