Guidance

National Canine Training and Accreditation Scheme – Private Security Industry

NCTAS-P sets standards for explosives detection dog team accreditation in the private security sector.

Documents

National Canine Training and Accreditation Scheme - Private industry (NCTAS-P): Explosives detection dog standard search module

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National Canine Training and Accreditation Scheme - Private industry (NCTAS-P): Explosives detection dog standard search module (accessible version)

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The National Canine Training and Accreditation Scheme – Private Security Industry (NCTAS-P) is intended to provide the operators of sites procuring and using explosives detection dog (EDD) services with confidence in the quality of those services through accreditation of each EDD team (a specific dog and handler pairing).

NCTAS-P has been developed as part of a collaborative effort between:

  • Home Office
  • Counter Terrorism Policing (CTPHQ)
  • National Protective Security Authority (NPSA)

It supports the government’s counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST).

NCTAS-P is a voluntary scheme. Access to security-sensitive supporting information will only be given to UK private sector security or detection dog service providers on registration of interest and subject to completion of background checks.

To register interest and find out more about NCTAS-P, please contact nctasp@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Once registered, we will keep the community updated as updated versions are published.

You can read further information and guidance on the effective training and operation of detection dogs.

Updates to this page

Published 4 March 2021
Last updated 15 October 2024 + show all updates
  1. Replaced references to the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) with the new National Protective Security Authority (NPSA).

  2. First published.

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