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West Midlands Police has officially opened its new tactical training centre in Birmingham. The facility, located in the Edgbaston area of the city, is where officers are trained in policing riots, responding to chemical attacks, using Tasers to stop dangerous attackers and much more.
The importance of being able to mobilise large numbers of well-trained officers quickly in these types of incidents, was highlighted in His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) report on UK policing’s response to the summer of national disorder, sparked by disinformation following the Southport killings.
The new centre means West Midlands Police is well prepared for any emergency and is ready to support other forces if needed. As part of the development, two new Taser firing ranges have been created, a new petrol bomb zone, a road network developed for practicing crowd control, and a large, disused building turned into a secure space for practicing extracting violent people from rooms and cars.
Before the new facilities opened, tactical training was conducted at RAF Cosford in Shropshire. However, with the lease expiring in January 2025, the force saw an opportunity to critically assess its training provision – evaluating what is offered, where it takes place and its value for public money.
A new 200-seater café has also been created on site creating local jobs and training for local people, including those who have traditionally been excluded from the job market. This includes disabled people, those who have experienced homelessness and people with no formal qualifications.
The cost of the new venue has already been covered by the savings on the lease, travel and avoiding the improvements the old location needed.
“I’m really pleased with this new facility, which provides a controlled and safe area for officer training. Moving tactical training to Birmingham and partnering with Warwickshire Police offers good value for public money and ensures we are able to work seamlessly together in times of need.
“Learning from the recent HMICFRS report showed us the importance of making sure our officers are prepared and well-trained. They did an excellent job locally and in supporting forces around the country last summer so that we can quickly mobilise during incidents like last year’s summer riots in other parts of the UK.
“We were ahead of the curve on that, and the new venue demonstrates that. People should be reassured that West Midlands Police have this quality facility in their region.”
Craig Guildford, Chief Constable, West Midlands Police.
Around 6,000 West Midlands Police officers will be taught at the new tactical training centre. They will be joined by hundreds of Warwickshire Police officers who will also use the site.
All of the training is delivered to a carefully monitored national standard to ensure officers from different forces use the same tactics, so they can seamlessly work together during major incidents.
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