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Plans for Staffordshire Police’s new armed training facility have been approved, as part of the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime’s commitment to invest in the facilities the force needs to keep communities safe.
The new indoor facility will be built at the force’s headquarters in Stafford at a revised cost of £20.6m, replacing the existing leased outdoor range and allowing officers to deploy more quickly in Staffordshire when needed. It will provide the force with a facility that is under Staffordshire Police’s control and fully compliant with all Health and Safety legislation and guidance.
Due to issues with the suitability and long-term availability of the current leased site, a detailed review was conducted to understand the force’s future requirements and evaluate a range of alternative options to meet them. The review included options for sharing a facility with neighbouring forces, but these proved unfeasible.
The new training centre will provide specialist officers with a purpose-built soundproofed facility that meets national standards and their current and future needs, offering state-of-the-art facilities including a 10-lane 50-metre indoor firing range, training rooms and office space. The scheme also includes a skills house to train tactics relating to building entry and searching.
“Police firearms deployments in Staffordshire are relatively low, but when our communities need an armed response to keep them safe, it is essential the force has the right training and facilities in place to deliver the highest quality service.
“Police forces have a legal responsibility to meet not only national College of Policing standards but also local strategic threat and risk assessments. These have evolved considerably in recent years, requiring solutions that improve services, protect the public from harm and deliver value for money for the long term.
“Using public money efficiently is a priority for me, and this investment is part of a wider estates plan for Staffordshire Police to ensure buildings are sustainable and future proof.”
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams.
Assistant Chief Constable, Paul Talbot, added: “Our firearms officers regularly respond to high-risk incidents and planned policing operations. It is vital that they receive the correct training to meet the high standards required in a police response. Providing suitable and relevant environments to meet modern training requirements is a priority for Staffordshire Police, along with ensuring that any investment provides a long-term, cost-effective solution for future generations.
“These new facilities will enable our accredited firearms officers to continue their training in threat assessment, de-escalation, and conflict resolution, in line with the College of Policing’s National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC).
“This investment will ensure our firearms officer training provision offers a safe training environment, meaning that Staffordshire can respond to local, regional, and national incidents, preventing serious harm to the public.”
Work on the new facility is expected to begin in July 2025, and should be completed by November 2026.
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