Solar tracks down a van

From the archive, first published Thursday 19th Apr 2001.

Halesowen's drug-tracker dog is going mobile after a town car dealership sponsored a new van.

Solar the springer spaniel has a new Peugeot from Quicks who will sponsor the car for 12 months.

Solar has been based at Halesowen police station since November and has helped track down quantities of cannabis and crack cocaine.

Sgt Rod Haynes believes the move will provide a major boost.

He said: "The use of this van will be for the drugs dog only, enabling the animal to be directed at incidents without us losing the use of a marked police dog van.

"It will also help us crack down on drug-related crime - one of the force's main aims at the moment."

Solar, who is 18 months old, has been trained by, and lives with, PC Steve Tolley and will be used in the fight against drugs across Dudley South as well as neighbouring areas.

Superintendent Steve Rowell, operations manager at Dudley South, said: "This will certainly help our flexibility in tackling this type of problem."

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