A new state of the art training facility has been given the seal of approval by the Home Secretary.

Nottinghamshire’s new £18.5m shared campus is helping meet multiple objectives, its Chief Constable has claimed.

Craig Guildford updated the Home Secretary on his force’s progress during a visit last week where Priti Patel saw first-hand changes made to meet changing crime demand and efficiency targets.

She was given a tour of the £18.5m headquarters complex which now includes a joint training centred shared with the county’s fire and rescue service.

The three-storey Sherwood Lodge complex – which went operational at the end of last year - features a new control room, training centre, canteen and offices for the two emergency services.

The gym facility has been carefully designed to ensure that it will meet the needs of both the Police and Fire Authorities. And the sports hall has been designed to be able to become a casualty bureau for use during major incidents.

But its core task is being able to support the Uplift recruits that the force is taking on. Last year, the force trained 110 new officers and CC Guildford has plans for a further 100 recruits in 2022.  

The Home Secretary has become a fan of the force and referenced its work during her evidence session before the Home Affairs Select Committee last month.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “I was delighted to welcome the Home Secretary to the site and to show her how we are now working together with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to better serve the public and also save money. We are truly in the middle of a revolution in local policing and this new facility lies at its heart.”

it's the latest stage of a strategy to increase partnership working and move away from single duty working.

He has also announced plans to expand the Operation Reacher teams, the specialist roads officers who target organised crime gangs and work with neighbourhood teams. They will be joined by an additional 24 extra officers, two extra per team.

The increase will mean each Reacher team will consist of a sergeant and eight full-time officers.

Since their launch in October 2020 the Reacher teams have arrested or dealt with 2,759 suspects, seized £657,000 in suspected illicit cash, and made 1,118 different drug seizures.

CC Guildford said: “The new building at our joint headquarters is extremely impressive and is home to some truly exceptional facilities. But ultimately what matters most is the quality and dedication of the officers and staff who are now making use of those facilities.”