West Yorkshire Police hosts 64th National Police Dog Trials at Nostell

Thousands gathered at Nostell in Wakefield to watch police dogs work at full speed under pressure, turning the final day of the 64th National Police Dog Trials into a public showcase of nerve, obedience and control. West Yorkshire Police hosted the event over four days and three sites, and the Saturday, May 16, finale was free to attend from 9:00am to 5:00pm, drawing visitors eager to see the dogs in action.

The competition brought together 21 police dogs and handlers from forces across the United Kingdom for tests built around real operational demands. Teams were judged across tracking, searching and criminal work, with obedience and agility folded into the challenge. That mix made the event feel less like a display and more like a live assessment of what police dogs are asked to do in the field: follow a scent, locate a suspect, hold focus in busy surroundings and move cleanly when the work turns physical.

The public day gave the crowd more than a scoreboard. Demonstrations from police dogs, the mounted unit and other specialist departments ran alongside stalls hosted by partner emergency services and sponsors. West Yorkshire Police framed the finale as both a competition and a community event, a way to show how working dogs are trained, handled and relied on. The 2026 trials carried the backing of the Thin Blue Paw Foundation as official sponsor, with Julius-K9 UK also supporting the event. Last year’s competition was hosted by West Midlands Police, adding another layer of county-to-county pride to this year’s staging at Nostell.

At the sharp end of the results, PC Magnus McGarry and PD Kim of Police Scotland emerged as the overall winners. McGarry, based in Dundee, and Kim also collected the William Palfrey Trophy and the Alex Memorial Trophy, underlining the strength of their run through the championship. PC John Warren and PD Albert of Devon & Cornwall won the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals Trophy, while PC Noah Tilley and PD Gus of Devon & Cornwall took the City of London Trophy for the second-highest championship mark. The Sir James Starritt Trophy went to the team with the third-highest championship marks.

Assistant Chief Constable Robert McCoubrey called the event a major success and praised the standard of competition and the dedication of the handlers. He also pointed to the practical side of the sport, noting the role police dogs play in locating missing people, apprehending offenders and recovering evidence. At Nostell, that blend of speed, control and partnership was exactly what the crowd came to see.