Porton Down testing amputated humans to help police dogs find bodies

Scientific trials are due to take place next month (October) at Porton Down if the plans are approved.

Lower limbs removed in surgery and donated by consenting, living hospital patients with conditions like diabetes are expected to be used to see if the dogs can tell the difference between animal and human remains, according to Government sources.

The dogs are typically trained to search for the bodies of missing people using pig flesh. But, without training using human tissue, there is a risk dogs may miss victims who could have been found.

It is thought dogs will be offered a mix of decomposed animal and human scent samples to test whether they can identify the difference.

Approval from the Health Research Authority (HRA) is legally required for the research – commissioned by the Home Office – before it can start.

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The project has been reviewed by the Ministry of Defence's research ethics committee, according to an HRA spokeswoman.

If successful, the trial could lead to changes in government policy on how police dogs are trained. It comes as the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is reviewing dog training practices.

Trials could commence at Porton Down in October. (Image: Newsquest)

A source told the Press Association: “This is the first time research of this kind would be carried out in the UK and it could be groundbreaking if it shows using human flesh in training can help dogs find more missing victims.

“The work even has the potential to pave the way for the country to have its first body farm.”

A body farm is a research facility which studies the decomposition of human corpses. There are several in the United States of America, one in Australia and another in the Netherlands – thought to be the only one in Europe – but none so far in the UK.

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A statement from the Home Office said: “We have commissioned a pilot to understand whether the training of victim detection dogs can be enhanced.

“Studies of this nature are vital to evolve our capabilities to protect the public and bring offenders to justice.”

The NPCC said it would not comment on the project and regulator the Human Tissue Authority has been contacted for comment.