Police have welcome their newest four-legged recruit - and say she has had a 'paw-fect' start to her career helping save people in the New Forest.

During her first few weeks of duty, German Shepherd Moxie tracked down a missing person and helped save a man who wanted to end his life.

Since she joined the force in October, Moxie has also carried out duties at football matches, been sent to a theft from vehicle incident, searched a building site for burglars, and attended a collision where the driver had left the scene.

Moxie’s handler, PC Stacy Beale, said: “Tracking missing people, uncovering evidence and apprehending suspects are just some of the crucial roles our dogs play in our relentless pursuit of criminals and keeping our communities safe.

“Together with their handlers, they can provide assistance to a range of teams across the force, whether that is in public order situations, helping find a missing person or tracking down evidence which may not initially be spotted by the human eye.

“I am incredibly proud of Moxie, having saved a man’s life in her first month of duty and showing confidence whilst being deployed to a number of other types of incidents.

"She is a good all round dog, who enjoys her work. Whilst she is still young in service she is proving to be a confident four-legged crime fighter and an excellent partner to work with.”

She joined the force after completing an intensive training programme which focuses on making sure the dogs and their handlers are equipped with the skills needed.

Within weeks on the job Moxie tracked down a man who had left his home in the New Forest, with the intention to end his own life.

Moxie picked up his scent and managed to locate him in a wooded area. The man was already unconscious but his handler was able to provide immediate first aid and call for the ambulance service.

At the end of November she finished of a night shift by tracking down another high risk missing person in the New Forest area. Within three minutes on the ground, she tracked him down, finding him fast asleep and snoring in a sleeping bag.

She is just one of a number dogs in her unit, who fall into two categories; general-purpose dogs like Moxie, and specialist search dogs.

General purpose dogs are trained for tracking, containment or detention of offenders, searching for people, locating property and public order. 

The specialist search dogs are able to search buildings, open areas, vehicles, vessels, and just about anywhere for hidden or discarded drugs, cash or firearms.