From rookie to retiree - PD Kato hangs up his lead after six years tracking Lancashire's criminals

Gorgeous PD Kato joined the police in Lancashire in November 2015, when he was just two years old.

He arrived at the police dog unit from the prison service and was paired with his handler PC Sue.

And little over a month later he had completed his training and along with PC Sue his first job saw him locate two suspects following a crash.

A spokesperson for the police said: "PD Kato tracked to a house where a female occupant denied all knowledge of anything.

"His handler issued a challenge and one male suspect gave up and showed himself at the top of the stairs.

"PD Kato then searched the house and in one bedroom barked at the bed base where the second suspect was hiding (good doggo alert).

"His handler knew then he was going to be a formidable police dog."

Over the past six years he’s tracked suspects responsible for an ATM theft in Cumbria, located a burglar trying to hide under masses of loft insulation, located a wanted male hiding in a wheelie bin, held up the M6 locating a wanted male that had ran from colleagues in Garstang on to the motorway and found a hidden shotgun stolen from a farm.

His handler said: “It will be very strange going to work without him.

"He has been the best partner I could have wished for but it’s time for him to put his paws up and relax.

"There was never any doubt about keeping him when he retires.

"We have had each other’s back for six years and I owe him so much.

"Thank you to Cath, Alan and Damian all of whom contributed to his training as a puppy. You trained a cracker”.