The services of the Unit will be utilized in the detection of crime and criminals. Dogs have a keen sense of smell and are able to pick up both ground borne and air borne scents.

Dogs have a keen sense of smell and are able to pick up both ground borne and air borne scents. However, in built up areas they may lose scent because of the over-lapping of scents and the availability of speedy means of transport like buses, trains, taxies, etc., which enable offenders to make a quick and easy get away. It is with the help of this sense of smell that dogs can follow up a scent to locate an individual or an object even if hidden.

If and when it is found necessary to use dogs for detection of crimes like murder, dacoity, robbery, burglary, etc., the time lag has to be curtailed to the minimum possible extent because their effectiveness depends upon the presence of the scent at the scene of offence and the longer the time lag lesser the chances of the dogs picking up the scents. There is also the fatigue factor affecting the dog as well as the handler which cannot be over-looked. Broadly speaking, scent, air-borne as well as ground borne, will not last for more than twelve hours unless the offender is hiding somewhere nearby.