HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE PRINCESS ROYAL UNVEILS NEW TACTICAL TRAINING CENTRE
Margaret Ollerenshaw, Chairman of the Authority said, "I was delighted to host a visit by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, who gave Cheshire Constabulary's purpose built Tactical training centre her Royal seal of approval."
During 2007 a fundamental review of the police officer training in the specialist fields of firearms, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) and public order training was undertaken to ensure that the Constabulary was equipped to protect the people of Cheshire and contribute to the regional and national response to the threat of terrorism. Following the review, in February 2008, the Police Authority agreed to fund the building of an Operational Training Centre on land it owned at the rear of Constabulary Headquarters in Winsford.
Margaret Ollerenshaw added "the Centre allows firearms and public order officers to train in a purpose built environment. Prior to the Authority's investment in the facility, training was provided over a number of sites in Cheshire and across the country. Financial savings will be made as officers will no longer have to travel out of the force area to hire alternative facilities and the time that officers are away from front line duties will be significantly reduced. Some of the costs will be offset as the Centre will be available for hire by other police forces. The facilities are amongst the best in the country and the demand for public order and firearms' training has increased. It will also be available to support the training required for the 2012 London Olympics."
Today, the Princess Royal observed a training exercise involving firearms officers carrying out a search scenario where two Armed Response Vehicles were deployed into the firing range and rescued a simulated casualty. She then observed training exercises in the public order arena including officers gaining entry to a secure building, dealing with a violent person within an enclosed space and use of TASER, to show how its use in appropriate situations can result in a reduction in the potential for injuries to be sustained by both members of the public and officers.
Chief Constable Dave Whatton, who escorted Her Royal Highness around the Centre said, "officers face a wide variety situations everyday some of which can be potentially life threatening. If officers are not trained in how to deal with different situations involving individual or crowds of people, the outcome could be death or serious injury of either the officers or a member of the public. I am proud to manage the facility which boasts one of only three firearms ranges in the country that allows officers to practice tactics from 100 meters, a tactic which can be needed in siege situations. In addition the range allows officers to learn how to react to changes in the environment for example where light changes inhibits the ability to see like at dawn or in the dark. The training centre has a variety of buildings used for public order training including; a mock bar, custody suite, house and an example of stadium seating."
At the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, the Constabulary will be providing officers to support the policing of these key national events. The officers, all of whom will have been trained at this Centre prior to their deployment at the Games, will perform a number of specialist roles including firearms and CBRN duties.
The Tactical Training Centre was funded by the Police Authority, at a cost of approximately £9 million, from capital receipts from the sale of the old police headquarters building in Chester and training centre in Crewe. This investment was made to significantly enhance the firearms and public order training given to police officers and to increase the Constabulary's capability to tackle serious and organised crime.
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