RAF Patch MP Royal Air Force Police Dogs Demonstration Team RAFP

RAF Patch MP Royal Air Force Police Dogs Demonstration Team RAFP Patch 1970s Printed on twill merrowed edge 90mm three and one half inches diameter.

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The Ministry of Aircraft Production Guard Dog School MAPGDS was formed in 1942 at Woodfold near Gloucester to provide professionally trained RAF patrol dog handlers which released hundreds of men for war duties who had previously been employed as guards. In 1944 the MAPGDS was absorbed into the RAF Police and renamed the RAF Police Dog Training School.

The RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team appeared for the first time in 1949 at the Royal Tournament in London and became an instant public success. In 1957 the first annual RAF Police Dog Championship Trials were held at Netheravon and in 1969 the Dog Demonstration Team covered 8000 miles around the USA and Canada giving 65 public performances in 23 cities and became a favourite at every venue.

The RAF Police Dog Training School began training dogs to detect illicit drugs in 1970 and later trained dogs to detect firearms and explosives with HM Customs and Excise began using RAF Police drug detection dogs against smugglers soon after.

Following defence reviews the RAF Police Dog Training School merged with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in 1991 to form the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray.  Dog sections operate within one of the four RAF Police Squadrons under 2 Police Wing which controls general police duties.

This patch dates from the 1970s.