Page 22 - index

22 TOP cover aUtUmn 2012

ArOund & AbOut

TOP cOver visiTs

Thames Valley POlice

Firearms Training

cenTre

Written By mArk WilliAmS

on a glorious summer’s day i made my way to the beautiful countryside of sulhamstead in
West Berkshire and arrived at the Firearms training Wing at the tvp training centre.

he training complex was opened in 2005 and is black cargo trousers. All officers are issued with Altberg boots
an impressive building. It features a 50m drive in and wear tac vests over their body armour. The ARVs use the
range, a simulation range, close quarter live firing following vehicles:
range, an armoury and classrooms. The walls are • Ford S Max 2.0 Diesel Auto
adorned with course photos, training photos, and a • Volvo V70 2.4 Diesel Manual
twell stocked PFOA notice board! All the classrooms Other equipment carried on the vehicles includes:
are well equipped and the building itself is extremely well • Long rigid Arnold Baton
maintained, even the toilets have soap dispensers with the TVP • Nico 6 Bang distraction Grenades
logo on, and Dyson hand dryers, very classy! • A variety of door opening equipment
Simon Feist, our PFOA Co-ordinator, introduced me to the • A combination of shields
CFI Inspector Keith Thompson and two ARV officers who were Vehicle call signs are kept to a straightforward ARV1, 2 etc.
happy to show me around their vehicles. and are given designated patrol areas. The Firearms ‘snowflake’
For many Firearms Officers around the UK memories of the markings are on the bonnet, roof and tailgate. Both cars feature
horrific events of Hungerford back in 1987 are a distant memory impressive safes.
but, speaking to officers from Thames Valley Firearms, they are Between April 2011 and March 2012 the unit had 326
all too aware of what can happen in a quiet rural area. Michael deployments, 291 spontaneous and 35 pre-planned. Within that
Ryan was probably the first active or lone shooter in this country. time they also deployed Taser on 833 occasions resulting in 13
During his trail of devastation on that fateful day in August 1987 discharges and 29 Red Dots.
he left in his wake 16 dead and 17 injured. One of the dead was Support for officers following a shooting is high on the priority
PC Roger Brereton, shot in his patrol car. Hungerford, along list for Thames Valley Police. I spoke with Carole Haveron a
with the 1996 Dunblane massacre and 2010 Cumbria shootings, former TVP Ch/Supt and now Head of the Corporate Health
remains one of the worst criminal atrocities involving firearms in and Support Services. Carole explained that there are set support
British history. procedures for officers, which includes welfare de-briefs and access
The TVP Firearms Unit is made up of 307 officers including to counsellors or other special care services if needed. The Force
those from Hampshire who are part of the new inter force also benefits from the support of Canon David Wilbraham, a
collaboration. The unit has ARV officers, SFO (Tactical Firearms good friend of the Police Firearms Officers Association. You can
Teams) CT SFOs, Protection Group and Close Protection (VIPs read more about David’s role in this issue of TOP cover. It’s
and Royalty). vitally important that officers are taken care of following an officer
ARV officers carry Glock 17 pistols and MP5 carbines. Double involved shooting and I was left with a feeling of reassurance from
crewed, they also carry an LMT (Lewis Machine and Tool) two Carole and David that TVP officers are in good hands. I was also
Tasers and a baton gun. Officers wear black wicking tops and keen to speak with Carole about the PFOA and what we provide