Students from Middlesbrough College’s Uniformed Public Services department recently gained unique first-hand experience of police response tactics during a series of intensive joint training exercises delivered in partnership with Cleveland Police.
Cleveland Police’s Armed Response Team collaborated with the College to deliver three practical training scenarios designed to simulate a major security incident. Each exercise involved a mock terror attack scenario in which an armed assailant targeted a visiting VIP. Officers from the close protection team responded swiftly, neutralising the threat and safely evacuating the VIP under controlled conditions.
Uniformed Public Services students were able to closely observe the professional response tactics of armed officers, gaining first-hand insight into their actions and decision-making processes. They were joined by Performing Arts students, who brought the scenario to life by convincingly portraying frightened members of the public and students during the simulated attack, adding further realism and complexity to the scenario.
Aaron Carabine, Course Co-Ordinator and Lecturer of Uniformed Public and Protective services, who coordinated the activity at Middlesbrough College, said: “Working in partnership with Cleveland Police on this exercise has been a fantastic experience for our students. It gave them a real insight into the training and operational activity that officers undertake, while also providing Cleveland Police with an effective environment to run realistic training scenarios.”
The exercises were carried out safely and successfully, providing students with a unique learning opportunity to witness how armed response units and close protection teams operate in high-pressure situations.
Aaron continued: “We hope this is the beginning of a strong and ongoing collaboration between Middlesbrough College and Cleveland Police. We already have students attending police training bases, and we’re looking forward to developing further training opportunities and activities together in the future.”
Following the training exercise, the police officers remained at the College to speak with students about the scenario, explain how the operation was carried out, and answer questions. They also discussed a range of career opportunities within the police service and shared insights into the skills and training required to work in specialist roles.
Superintendent Paul Richardson, Head of Matrix & Operations Planning at Cleveland Police said: “Working with Middlesbrough College provided an excellent opportunity to run a realistic training exercise while giving students a valuable insight into how our armed officers respond to high-risk incidents. Engagement like this helps young people understand the professionalism, teamwork and preparation required in modern policing.”
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