A major government inquiry must take place into reforming the police, Sir Ian Blair said today.

The former Metropolitan Police boss said the continuing encroachment of politics into policing, a raft of radical new legislation and the constantly changing face of society made an inquiry essential.

Writing in his autobiography Policing Controversy, published today, Sir Ian outlines his vision for how policing will change over the next decade and the pressures on all forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Devon and Cornwall Police have become the first force in the country to train dogs specifically to search for lost people.

The force now has three springer spaniels and one Brittany dog whose sole job is to hunt for people who have got lost and are potentially in danger.

Not only are the dogs excellent at tracking down lost people, police say their friendly nature makes them more suitable for the task.

A new Taser that fires wireless electric shock projectiles up to 30 metres is being considered for use by UK police forces, the Home Office has confirmed.

The eXtended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP), which went on sale in the US last month, attaches itself to its target with a series of barbed electrodes and delivers a 20-second, 500 volt shock.

If the subject tries to grab the device to pull it off, "reflex engagement electrodes" activate to complete a circuit that sends the shock through the subject's body out to their hand.

Hundreds of PCs earn more than their bosses by working 70-hour weeks to double their salaries

Britain's police constables are topping up their salaries by thousands of pounds every year – in some cases more than doubling their annual pay – by making large overtime claims, an investigation by The Independent has discovered.

Freedom of information requests responded to by 35 of the 51 forces in England, Scotland and Wales showed that more than 12,000 PCs claimed more than £6,000 each in overtime last year – a 20 per cent increase on their salaries.