AGREEMENTS have been signed which will see police forces across the South West work together to protect their communities and tackle the threat of terrorism.
The creation of a flexible, borderless specialist policing team has moved a step closer after a Tri Force Specialist Operations collaboration agreement was signed between Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police forces.
The aim is to create a centrally-managed unit which is intelligence led and able to meet demand at any time or place across the three areas.
It will see a combination of firearms, dogs and road policing teams used to enhance each force’s ability to respond in times of need.
On the same day as this agreement was signed, police and crime commissioners and chief constables from all three forces visited a new firearms training facility currently being built at Black Rock Quarry in Portishead.
To be used to train officers from the three areas, its main structure is now complete and the guests were able to plant the final section of its bio-diverse roof during their visit to the Valley Road site.
Avon and Somerset PCC Sue Mountstevens said: “This is an exciting stage in our three forces working and training together. At a time when we are being asked to make dramatic savings this is the way forward to make our forces as efficient as possible and to enable further resources to be focused in other areas such as neighbourhood policing teams.”
A further milestone has also been reached with the signing of a Special Branch collaboration agreement between the five forces across the South West; Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
This will see shared investigative and intelligence functions come together to cover counter terrorism and domestic extremism across the region.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary chief constable Nick Gargan said: “It’s hard to disagree with the concept of collaboration. Neither serious organised criminals nor major transport routes are contained within force boundaries.
“In times of austerity our ability to flex highly specialist services such as Special Branch to destroy and disrupt serious criminality becomes even more pressing.”
n Pictured: Above - Commissioners and chief constables on the roof of the firearms facility. Left - the signing of the Special Branch collaboration.
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