Dog handler recognised for 50 years of service

"The journey that I've been on, I'm very fortunate to have," said Mr Partington, seen here with Archer

A retiring police dog handler says he feels "a whole mix of emotions" after receiving a national award for 50 years of service.

Dog Unit manager Ian Partington, who joined Merseyside Police in 1975 and then Wiltshire Police in 1998, worked with the specialist dog section for 33 years whilst holding the ranks of sergeant and then inspector.

He has been given a National Police Chiefs' Council Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to policing.

Mr Partington said he had a feeling of "great pride, but also one of humility as well".

In 1986, the officer was promoted to sergeant, then six years later began working in the Merseyside Dog Section.

His job has seen him deployed to numerous high-risk situations, including an IRA bomb threat at the Grand National in 1997.

Mr Partington transferred to Wiltshire Police as the Dog Section Sergeant and remained in the dog section as a handler with all types of police dogs.

He also took on the role of the force dog trainer whilst in the ranks of both sergeant and inspector.

He retired as a police officer in 2006 and became the dog section trainer.

Ian Partington is due to retire from the police in the summer

"Anybody who's had dogs; pets or working dogs, you can't separate them but your first dog is always incredibly special and your first job with that dog is incredibly special," Mr Partington told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

The first dog he received was a rescued German Shepherd called Zack.

"He was really quite young when I got him. I didn't really know what I was doing. Made an awful lot of mistakes and he taught me an awful lot," he said.

"I've been incredibly fortunate, I've been blessed with my working life. I've had some wonderful opportunities, I've worked with some fantastic people," he added.

Mr Partington, seen with search dogs Bonnie (L) and Buster (R), said his job had become a "vocation rather than career"

Supt Steve Cox, who recommended Mr Partington for the award, said, "Ian takes immense pride that he has passed and continues to pass on his years of knowledge and skills, and nothing gives him more pleasure than seeing his handlers having successful deployments, winning awards at trials, and quite simply watching them develop and improve.

"Ian is an amazing person; he is passionate and hard-working, and to this date, he continues to deliver his role to the highest standards."