Work begins on Staffordshire Police's new £20.6m armed training facility three years after being first unveiled
Work has begun on the long-awaited Staffordshire Police new "20.6 million armed training facility.
Plans were first unveiled for the project three years ago, when it was costed below £15 million, by the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime.
The new indoor facility at the force’s headquarters in Stafford is replacing the existing leased outdoor range. The armed response unit base is designed so gun-toting officers can deploy more quickly in Staffordshire and beyond when needed. The Commissioner has mooted Staffordshire firearms officers be available for neighbouring forces.
Staffordshire Police will control the facility which will be fully compliant with all Health and Safety legislation and guidance.
The new training centre will provide specialist officers with a purpose-built soundproofed facility 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, similar to the type which was made famous by the Police Academy film franchise in the 1980s.
Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams said: “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.”
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Talbot said: “Staffordshire firearms officers regularly respond to high-risk incidents and planned policing operations to provide a response to incidents involving weapons and firearms that have the capability of causing significant harm, prioritising the safety of the public across Staffordshire.
“These new facilities are a necessity, that enables our specially trained and accredited firearms officers to meet the national rigorous training requirements in threat assessment, de-escalation and conflict resolution, in line with the College of Policing’s National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC).
“This new level of investment will ensure our firearms officer training provision continues to protect and prevent harm to our communities, continuing to provide reassurance to the public, proactively assist colleagues across the force and deliver tailored support to partners.”
The construction of the project should be completed by November 2026.
