Young girl inspires UK county police force to consider employing police cats

A county police force could be the first in the UK to introduce cats to serve alongside its dogs after a five-year-old wrote to the chief constable suggesting they would make good investigators.

Eliza Adamson-Hopper contacted the Durham Police chief Mike Barton after discussing the possibility of police cats with her dad last month.

In a convincing letter written to Chief Barton, she listed the reasons cats would be a valuable asset to the force, including the fact they "have good ears and can listen out for danger”.

“Cats are good at finding their way home and could show policemen the way,” she wrote.

She also explained that because her own dog and cat get along, she believes a police cat would work well with police dogs.

Chief Barton replied to her suggestion and said he would pass it on to his Inspector.

The force has since confirmed it will consider using felines in an as-yet unspecified role.

“I can confirm the force is looking into recruiting what we believe to be the first UK police cat," Inspector Richie Allen of the Dog Squad Unit told The Northern Echo.

"Their duties and responsibilities have not yet been agreed but if nothing else they will become the force mascot,” he said.

Inspector Allen also wrote to Eliza, inviting her to see police dogs in action at a local event.

He encouraged her to look into a charity called Paws Up that looks after retired police dogs.