Police dog and handler honoured after tracing hit-and-run suspects

A police dog and his handler have been recognised with an award after they tracked down hit-and-run suspects more than two miles from the incident.

British Transport Police constable Raymond Martin was driving along the M8 towards Edinburgh on May 27 last year when he came across a vehicle on its roof between the hard shoulder and inside lane.

He learned from witnesses at the scene that two men had fled towards nearby woodland.

He deployed police dog Storm who was able to pick up their scent and track them through several fields, a river and an electric fence. Pc Martin suffered an electric shock from the fence, but he was not badly injured.

Storm tracked the two suspects just over two miles away and found them hidden underneath a riverbank and partly submerged by water.

The police dog then assisted in detaining the pair until colleagues from Police Scotland arrived.

Both men were arrested and charged with a variety of offences.

Storm’s award of the British Transport Police’s Bryan Trophy comes as he gets set to retire after seven years of service.

Chief Inspector Pete Kooper said: “Huge congratulations are in order for Pc Martin and PD Storm, who demonstrated exemplary perseverance and determination in tracking two suspects who had tried their best to flee the scene of a crime.

“It’s a fitting end to an illustrious career in BTP for PD Storm, who has spent seven years protecting the railway network in Scotland.

“We’d all like to wish him a very happy and much deserved retirement.”