NZ Police has officially opened a new training facility for frontline officers which offers a simulated neighbourhood settling for training scenarios.
The Scenario Village residential building project consists of three buildings – a single-storey state house, a large two-storey house and three townhouses – and surrounding streetscape, featuring a range of home environments.
Commissioner Andrew Coster joined with Police Minister Mark Mitchell, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, representatives from the main contractors and Police staff to mark the occasion and tour the facilities at the Royal New Zealand Police College.
“Our officers work in a very fast-moving and challenging environment, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that they are safe and feel safe as they go about their work,” said Commissioner Coster.
“This means they need the right tools, training and support to carry out their duties effectively and safely… as they undertake day-to-day policing challenges right across the country.”
Minister Mitchell agreed, saying it is critically important frontline staff have access to a facility like the Scenario Village, where they have to make quick decisions under pressure as that is the nature of their work.
“Having a facility like this where they can actually go through those real-life experiences will put them in a much better position to not only keep themselves and their colleagues safe but the public safe as well.”
Police say the facility will be used to train for effectively responding to active shooter events, hostage situations, family harm, mental health and other scenarios as well as room clearances and rescue tactics.
From turning the turf in November 2022 to the opening one year and four months later, a huge amount of effort has gone in from many people, says Superintendent Kelly Ryan, Director Frontline Safety Improvement Programme.
“Put simply it’s a game-changer for training,” she says.
“It demonstrates the organisation is prioritising realistic, fit-for-purpose, tactical training which we know is a priority for our frontline now and in the future.
“I would like to give a big shout out to our operational staff in particular, who gave their time, effort and expertise in the design and development of the Scenario Village, our FSIP team including Property Group who have worked tirelessly with contractors and companies to build it, and Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny whose vision and motivation to build this is finally realised.”
Wellington District AOS Tactical Operations Coordinator for Tactical Response Model (TRM) and AOS Team Leader, Senior Sergeant Wade Fale, said he was impressed with the facility.
“You have to really see it to appreciate the Scenario Village,” he said.
“The thought and attention to detail that has gone into it means we have something realistic and practical to ensure our frontline and specialist squads can train as they operate now and for years to come.
“I’m particularly impressed by the breachable windows and doors – a first for us.”
As a training facility, it’s right on the mark and reflects what frontline staff wanted, says Senior Sergeant Jason Butcher, lead in Frontline Safety Enhancement in Districts (FSED) for the Frontline Safety Improvement Programme (FSIP), and an AOS Team Leader.
“It’s so good to have this investment in training, but also to have trusted Police’s operational staff to help to design what they thought they needed rather than to tell them,” he said.
“This not only means we get a fit-for-purpose training environment, but our frontline can feel they have been listened to and valued.”
The Scenario Village has been a key deliverable of the Frontline Safety Improvement Programme, which has training at its foundation.
Wellington District’s FSED programme is the first to use the Scenario Village, but the focus will be on running national training at the facility through the Frontline Skills Enhancement Course (FSEC).
FSEC has a tactical and operational focus, with a heavy emphasis on practical scenario-based learning.