A new state-of-the-art forensic teaching centre, run by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), was officially opened today by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.The training complex is part of a £15 million redevelopment of the Harperley Hall site near Durham. The improvements will ensure that Harperley Hall continues to be a centre of excellence for forensics and wider police training. It will also be able to provide operational support to regional police forces involved in major investigations. Peter Holland, NPIA Chairman, said: "Forensics has transformed policing in this country and around the world, and increased the likelihood that crimes will be detected. The new state-of-the-art facilities will enable Harperley Hall to stay at the cutting edge of forensics development and provide world class training for future police CSIs." The Princess Royal saw how the specialist laboratories equipped with lasers and digital technology enable students to be taught the very latest in fingerprint and footwear recovery. These facilities also include an analysis room that provides a safe environment to train students in blood pattern analysis. As part of Harperley's work in the wider area of policing the Princess Royal was given a demonstration of how the Centre's immersive learning suite is being used to simulate the experience of managing major incidents. The training in this area is highly-regarded by both national and international police forces, and will be used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as part of their preparation for managing the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Mr Holland said the Forensic Centre would provide a valuable contribution to policing. "The unique combination of facilities has been designed to support the changing operational needs of police. They will enable other areas of police training to be located on the site, and they will also be able to support a major investigation in the region if required." Ends Contacts: Notes to Editors About NPIA NPIA is a single national organisation created to support effective policing. It provides expertise in areas as diverse as information and communications technology, support to information and intelligence sharing, core police processes, managing change and recruiting, developing and deploying people. NPIA works for the police service and is governed by a tripartite board comprising ACPO, APA, Home Office and independent members. The ACPO President is a member of the NPIA Board.
The Princess Royal was given a tour of the new facilities which have been designed to make police training at Harperley Hall as realistic as possible.
She saw the meticulous work that takes place at a crime scene as a group of students in protective suits carried out a mock-murder investigation on a high street specially-built at the forensics centre. The street is so lifelike that it comes complete with shops, offices, road signs and motor vehicles to simulate the real environment that police CSIs work in.
Chris Underwood
Tel: 020 8358 5696
Valentine Murombe-Chivero
Tel: 020 8200 3232
