Dogs Ginny and Barney and handlers Dave Coss and Tim Marston work with police and fire services in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire to help determine how and where a fire started.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) said their work helped solve some of the most complex investigations.

Beth Pearson, fire investigation manager at NFRS, said: "This medal is a fitting recognition of the remarkable work the dogs do in helping bring arsonists to justice, alongside the dedication of their handlers."

She added: "Over the last four years, the team has made a significant contribution to securing 580 years' worth of custodial sentences in arson cases within the East Midlands since December 2021."

The fire service said the team also helped to train firefighters and crime scene investigators, supporting academic research and sharing specialist knowledge with emergency services nationwide.

It said if an ignitable liquid had been used as an accelerant to deliberately start a fire, the dogs could detect the liquid in its natural state or if it had been burned.

Both dogs can be deployed independently, giving fire investigators added confidence in their findings.

The team won the Special Team Award at the UK Service Dogs Awards, which celebrate the contribution that service dogs and their handlers make to communities across the UK.

Their nomination said the team had "played a pivotal role in supporting a murder investigation that resulted in the longest sentence for arson murder of 44 years".

"In this case, both handlers and their dogs were strategically deployed separately to eliminate any risk of cross contamination, showcasing their meticulous attention to evidential integrity and best practice," it read.

David Lynch, area manager for prevention and protection at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said they were delighted the dogs and their handlers had been recognised.

"Between their powerful noses and specialist training, these dogs can detect things that we quite simply would never be able to find.

"It makes them such an important part of the team, especially during those tricky investigations," he said.

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