In his latest column, Durham’s chief constable Mike Barton explains how a derelict warehouse is helping his officers train for everything from civil unrest to cyber crime

THERE are many things that I am proud of within Durham Constabulary. Obviously, the people are top of the list but we also have some cracking facilities too.

And one which is truly outstanding is our training department at Meadowfield.

We have managed to transform an empty warehouse into the North of England’s premier training department.

Thanks to the skill and hard work of our carpenter we have developed a “skills houses” with furnishings and a life-like pub for realistic skills training and scenarios.

The Northern Echo:
CHALLENGING: Officers deal with petrol bombs at Durham Constabulary’s training centre

From dealing with petrol bombs to advanced driver training and cyber awareness, it all happens there.

Even our local first-class cricketers have been put through their paces at the site.

I recently paid a visit on a training day and I was blown away by the facilities and highly specialist and qualified trainers.

The world of police training has certainly changed a lot since I was a new recruit.

POLICE Professional, the industry magazine, visited Durham Constabulary recently.

They came to see how we’d achieved our success, (in the annual assessments we received the highest grades of all 43 forces in England and Wales).

The six page piece concluded: “As both Leicester City and Durham Constabulary have shown, a positive approach and freedom to play a part has shown that you do not need to be big to perform at the highest level.”

We’ve collected the trophy, while Leicester are inching ever closer.

At least we’re not being compared with my team Blackpool!

However, unlike football, we haven’t the luxury of an end of season break and the hard work continues as we have much to do to retain our grades.

While Leicester are enjoying their first season at the top of their profession, we have just completed our second.

And, as I am sure they will find out next season, the most difficult challenge is remaining there.

THOSE of you who know me will know I am not one to back down from a challenge.

So when The Northern Echo’s former editor Peter Barron laid down the gauntlet recently in one of his columns, I was only happy to oblige.

It was about Charlie York who picked up the overcoming adversity award at The Northern Echo’s Schools Awards.

Charlie is a remarkable young man. He was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis aged just one and after major problems with infections underwent a double lung transplant last year.

He has tackled the challenges he has faced with courage and character, as it proved when he picked up his prize.

He told the ceremony that he wanted to be a policeman when he grows up as “they just drive around”.

Peter commented in his piece “are you reading Mike Barton?” Well I am happy to say that I was.

Charlie, 11, goes to school in North Yorkshire. So, after a couple of calls with my colleagues, they managed to give Charlie a day to remember. But that was only after they had handcuffed him for his cheeky remark!

FINALLY I just wanted to end my column by saying good luck to Peter Barron. As editor of The Northern Echo, Peter has campaigned tirelessly for the North-East and the people who live and work here.

Without fear or favour he has highlighted the good work in Durham Constabulary and has challenged on the occasions we have fallen short of our own high standards.

Good luck for the future Peter, we wish you well.