Emotional support dogs are to be given to victims of crime to keep them calm while giving evidence to police in the first trial of its kind in Britain.

Kent Police are using two-year-old Oliver, a Labrador-retriever cross, as part of a study into the effect the animals can have on witnesses during investigations and trials, by allowing victims to stroke him.

The project, which is being led by Canterbury Christ Church University, has taken inspiration from the USA and Canada.

There are now 200 of these dogs in both countries, helping children, victims of sexual assaults and witnesses with mental illnesses, but Oliver is the first in the UK. Universities already use them to help with student's mental health.

The friendly faced Lab has been chosen to help Kent Police comfort vulnerable victims of crime after 18 months of professional training as a justice facility dog.

Dr Liz Spruin, an investigative psychologist and Oliver's primary handler, said: "It will build the evidence needed to show criminal justice agencies just how beneficial these dogs can be for vulnerable people.

"We're hoping this will convince assistance dog organisations to start training these types of dogs. We want to get them in the legal system." Dr Spruin says the dogs have been shown to have helped young victims of serious sexual assaults recall events more accurately to authorities.