Morgan Sindall Construction’s Midlands business has begun work on a new police firearms training facility for Staffordshire Police that will meet their training needs for the next 30 to 40 years.
Procured through the Constructing West Midlands Framework, the £17.6 million scheme will see the demolition of existing buildings to make way for a modern training facility that will enable the force to train its armed response officers to ensure the continued protection of the Staffordshire community, and to meet its mutual aid obligations.
Once complete, the new facility will feature a 10-lane, 50-metre live-fire range and a purpose-built, two-storey training hub designed to meet the advanced training needs of specialist police units. .
In collaboration with Blue Sky Architects and Appleyard & Trew LLP, the new facility has been designed to enhance Staffordshire Police’s training provision, ensuring officers have access to the very best environment and resources that support high quality, near-realistic preparation. .
The Morgan Sindall Construction team will also be supporting Care of Police Survivors (COPS) – a charity that provides emotional and practical support for bereaved families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.
Ben Adams, Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: "This is a vital facility for the force, allowing us to train our Authorised Firearms Officers in near-realistic training conditions for the roles we ask them to take on to keep Staffordshire’s communities safe."
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Talbot, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Having a firearms training facility that conforms with national legislation is vital for maintaining operational readiness and public safety. Our officers have to comply with the mandated training schedules to use firearms enabling them to respond to local, regional and national incidents, preventing serious harm to the public."
Richard Fielding, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “The new firearms training centre has been carefully designed to provide a safe, modern, and high-quality environment that supports the specialist training needs of the force."
