Ref. 26041-SF007SWINDON mayor Derek Benfield has welcomed Wiltshire police's first passive drugs dog, Bodie.

Bodie, a year-old golden Labrador, has been trained to detect all types of substances from heroin to rohypnol, a date-rape drug.

Coun Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) said: "Bodie is a lovely, young dog and it's amazing he can pick up on all sorts of drugs. Hopefully he will help tackle the drug problem in Swindon and across the county."

Bodie will be used in nightclubs, pubs, schools and shopping centres throughout Wiltshire where police believe drugs are being dealt.

PC Marie Poole said: "We are thrilled to have Bodie.

"He is called a passive drugs dog because he will sit in front of anyone carrying illegal drugs. By disrupting the dealers, Bodie will be a powerful tool for the fight against crime," the police officer said.

It cost £4,000 to send Bodie on a six-week training course in Guildford, Surrey.

The pooch's training was partly sponsored by Westfield, joint-owners of the Brunel Shopping Centre, and the Swindon Initiative, a public-private partnership to aid the town's progress.

Nick Beaumont-Jones, manager of the Brunel Shopping Centre, said: "I think it's a great idea to stem the problem of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

"While drugs are not an issue in the Brunel Centre, thefts occur and Bodie could make Swindon a safer place to shop."