POLICE dog handlers are asking the public to come up with a snappy name for their newest puppy recruit.

The nine-week-old German Shepherd puppy joined Cleveland Police’s dog section last week and will stay with dog section trainer PC Mark Robson until he is fully trained and is able to pound the streets with one of the section’s dog handlers.

The puppy came from a breeder in the Sunderland area and was one of a litter of five.

Inspector Bev Gill, head of the operational support unit, said: “Our newest recruit will need to have a name which will represent the qualities of a good police dog; courage, strength and intelligence. We’d love suggestions from members of the public about what to name him.

“It will be brilliant to see him go through all his training, be allocated to a handler and then join the team.”

Suggestions for names can be emailed to: dogsection@cleveland.pnn.police.co.uk.