ST HELENA POLICE FIREARMS TRAINING

The St Helena Police Service is currently carrying out firearms training at the Range at Cox’s Battery every Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

This is the first firearms course to be held on St Helena since 2011 and is part of the continued professionalization of the Police Service, in line with improvements across other key areas.

Despite the low risk of firearms crime on-Island, there are a large number of people who own firearms. The Police must therefore be prepared to have a professional response to any firearms incident that could take place.

Air Safety Support International also expects the Police Service to be able to provide an armed response at St Helena Airport.

The training, which is in line with UK standards, is being carried out by instructors from training company Euro Tactical. Between them, the instructors have a combined experience in the use of firearms of over 100 years.

Chief Inspector (Operations), Steve Riley, said:

“This course is the culmination of a year of hard work which has involved negotiations with international training providers and creating the infrastructure on-Island so that the course can take place. The Euro Tactical team are incredibly professional and even half way through week two the Officers are demonstrating a high level of competence in the safe use of a variety of firearms.

“I am pleased to report that the Officers are pushing themselves to their limits and giving one hundred per cent every day. The course is critical to the safety and security of the Island and its visitors. The risk of firearms crime on St Helena is very low but this course will provide a select number of Police Officers with the skills to safely deal with a firearms incident should it occur.”

The training will continue until Friday, 24 November 2017. Red flags, signs and barriers are in place and walkers in the Cox’s Battery area should not approach the Range as live firing will be in progress.

For further information, please contact Garry Henry at Police Headquarters on tel: 22626 or via email: Gary.Henry@sainthelena.gov.sh

#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #FirearmsTraining

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt

SHG
8 November 2017

St Helena Government Communications Hub

Telephone: 22470
Email: kimberley.peters@sainthelena.gov.sh