Warwickshire Police has welcomed HRH The Duke of Gloucester who officially opened the force’s state-of-the-art Operations and Communications Centre at Stuart Ross House (SRH), Warwick.
Although SRH has been up and running for just over a year now, it was a hugely special day, marked with the royal visit, to recognise the team and new facility the force has to support public contact and the command of policing across the county.
HRH The Duke of Gloucester was greeted by a number of guests, including Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe and Chief Constable Debbie Tedds.
Chief Constable Debbie Tedds and HRH The Duke of Gloucester shake hands in front of the plaque at the official opening of Stuart Ross House.
He also met guest of honour at the event, Brenda Ross, the widow of PC Stuart Ross, a serving officer with the force who died in 1998 and who the new building is named in memory of.
HRH was then escorted on a tour of SRH, meeting many members of Warwickshire Police’s workforce, including those within the control room and a number of officers, staff and cadets who helped facilitate the event.
HRH The Duke of Gloucester talks to control room staff
At the conclusion of the visit, HRH officially opened the building with the unveiling of a new plaque to historically mark the occasion.
Chief Constable Tedds said: “Stuart Ross House is a fantastic facility within the county, providing the force with a state-of-the-art Operations and Communications Centre (OCC).
“The OCC sits at the heart of our organisation, forming the main gateway for the public to contact us 24/7. As well as having new IT infrastructure and technology to support us in how best to respond to the public, we also have incredible members of our workforce working from here day and night to ensure the public receive the very best service possible.
“Demand has been significantly rising in the past few months, and today regularly our control room manages more calls than we have previously on the likes of New Year’s Eve. All calls are prioritised on the threat and risk posed but we continue to urge members of the public to use the whole range of means available to contact the force, not least taking advantage of online services to ensure phone lines are freed up for those in urgent and critical need of immediate police help.
“The work delivered from SRH ensures the force provides consistent, high quality, locally delivered policing services.
“The official opening of this facility has been a special occasion for the force, marked by the visit and has been a proud opportunity to recognise the incredible work that staff do, day and night, to protect people from harm in Warwickshire.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe and Chief Constable Debbie Tedds cut a cake to commemorate the opening.
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe added: “The official opening of the state-of-the-art Operations and Communications Centre at Stuart Ross House is a significant milestone for Warwickshire Police. It represents a multi-million pound investment in policing in Warwickshire and is part of the continued commitment to develop an improved service for the public.
“I was delighted that we were able to showcase the facility to HRH The Duke of Gloucester but even more proud that he was able to see first-hand the dedication and expertise of all of those who work within the OCC.”
Notes to editors
PC Stuart Ross was an observer in the force helicopter, which struck power lines and crashed into dense woodland on take-off from the East Midlands Air Support Unit at Husbands Bosworth, on the Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire borders.
The helicopter had been responding to a pursuit in Stratford on 10 October 1998.
Stuart was 34 and had 13 years’ service, three of which were with air support, having transferred from roads policing at Rugby.
