CorpComms Magazine

West Midlands Police have been accused of wasting their own time after they set up a Twitter account for their crime-fighting Labrador Smithy. 

Barely pausing to consider his lack of opposable thumbs, Smithy has been tweeting regular updates and links since 1 September and has accrued a following of over 500 people. 

The police pooch has been vociferously condemned by several organs of the press for wasting already strapped police resources. But Smithy takes his investigative duties very seriously and his solo canine crimewatch frequently delivers links to news stories covering West Midlands crime, missing persons notices and CCTV footage in need of public scrutiny.  

His more personal tweets include updates about his team, 'Just heard me CSI crime fighting partner Rory has a bad cough, will have to consider ringing Hong Kong Phooey to cover him. Get well soon Pal,' posts about what he gets up to when he clocks off, and introductions to the skills and characteristics of cadaver dogs.   

Smithy faced down criticism of his one-pooch public information service with the 140-character statement: 'Certain papers won't get me in the doghouse, Twitter is free and is an encouraged & accepted way to communicate with the public I serve...'

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