Our Trustees
Adrian Hanstock QPM - Founding Trustee
Adrian Hanstock QPM CD FIoD and founding trustee served as a police officer for more than thirty-five years in three police forces; Nottinghamshire Constabulary, the Metropolitan Police Service and British Transport Police where he held the senior appointments of Deputy Chief Constable and latterly, interim Chief Constable.
He is a qualified Chartered Company Director, a graduate of the FBI Executive Law-Enforcement Leadership Programme and alumnus of the Windsor Leadership Trust.
Adrian is a strong advocate of the valuable role that police dogs offer in protecting the public and disrupting crime and is proud to be a founding trustee of the Rail Dogs Fund.
Thomas Davies - Founding Trustee
PC Tom Davies has worked in policing since 2005 and has been an operational dog handler since 2013. He currently handles a German Shepherd called Timor, with the team specialising in firearms support. Tom is the youngest trainer within the dog section and enjoys the challenges of bringing on potential police puppies and developing existing dog teams.
As a strong advocate of the dog sections work and a founding member of the fund Tom is extremely humbled to be a trustee of the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund
Neil Billany - Trustee
PC Neil Billany joined the British Transport Police in 2004 and the joined the Dog Section in 2009 as an Explosive Search Dog Handler where he licensed with his first police dog Max.
In his time on the dog section, Neil has handled six licensed police dogs in Explosive Search, General Purpose and Tactical Firearms Support.
Neil wanted to become part of the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund after the help they gave him when his retired police dog Max become unwell and was struggling to pay for his care.
‘I hope I can help others in the same way’.
Daniel Nagle - Trustee
PC Daniel Nagle has worked in policing since 2007 and has been an operational dog handler since 2018. He currently handles a Springador called Axel which he raised from a puppy. Axel took over from his big brother Bailey when he retired in 2022.
Daniel was grateful to be added to the charity and is keen to connect with the families of our retired hero's. He wants to add value and support to the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund by creating a friendly community.
Chris Potter - Trustee
PC Chris Potter has served in the British Transport Police since 2013.
Chris joined as a PC at BTP Leicester and then moved to the East Midlands Operational Support Unit before then realising his calling to become a dog handler.
He has been an operational dog handler since 2019 and currently handles his first dog, a Springador called Buddy.
Buddy is an Explosive Detection Dog and has seen operational duties covering events such as the G7 Summit, COP 26, The Commonwealth Games and many royal visits and engagements including search duties on board the Royal Train.
Donovan Flores - Trustee
PC Donovan Flores joined British Transport Police in 2008 and has worked in a variety of roles including neighbourhood policing, partnerships, and CID.
He has been an operational dog handler since 2021 and currently handles a Labrador named Tara, who is an Explosives Search Dog.
Don is extremely proud to have joined the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund as a trustee and hopes to bring his experience of establishing links with partner agencies to the charity, in order to ensure we are in the best position to support retired dogs going forward.
Steven Davies - Trustee
PC Steven Davies has served in the British Transport Police since 2005.
He has been an operational dog handler since 2020 and currently handles his first dog, a Labrador called Freddie.
During Steve's 18-year service as an operational officer he has guided over 80 new officers through their probationary period as either a Tutor Constable or an Assessor.
Steve has received a commendation for his brave actions during the 2007 Grayrigg rail disaster and states being a police dog handler is his dream job and it is a great honour to be a Trustee for the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund
Former Trustees
Paul Wood - Founding Trustee
PC Paul Wood has served in the British Transport Police dog section for 22 years. During that time he has worked 3 German Shepherds & a Border Collie, Charlie, who was retired at 9 years.
He has been involved in the Battersea Dogs Home display at Crufts & appeared in TV series, “Send in the Dogs”.
Paul has received 2 commendations and a medal for long service. He now works alongside PD Albert & is proud to be a trustee of Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund
Harriet Andrews - Founding Trustee
Harriet has worked for the British Transport Police and the Authority since 2015. As Deputy Director, Financial Control Harriet ensures that the Force’s financial reports are compliant with the appropriate frameworks and accounting policies. Before BTP; Harriet worked for EY where she specialised in auditing charitable fund accounts.
Harriet was delighted to be asked to be part of setting up the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund. She is looking forward to using her financial expertise to ensure the Fund can support as many retired rail dogs as possible