The building in the Ormskirk campus will be used by students to work through policing and law exercises in a realistic domestic setting.
The training facility has retained features such as a three-piece suite, kitchen units and dining and bedroom furniture to allow it to be used by students to work through the criminal and investigative scenarios they would discover in real home environments.
In addition to the traditional décor are some more unusual features. There is a “parade” room for students to receive their briefings and four syndicate rooms for learning and teaching activities.
Each room in the house contains technology linked to a control room allowing staff to monitor investigations and exercises and allow students to watch their work and share comments as a group.
The ground floor also includes functional elements of a police station, including a custody suite and cell.
Andrew Whittle, Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Policing said: “These new facilities will enable Policing and other students to work together in areas such as gathering and analysing evidence, including forensic evidence at crime scenes, in a realistic residential environment.
“The students will also be able to practice the interview techniques used by police through role play, while being monitored via camera to enable a review of their activities and ensure the rights of suspects are upheld.”
Dr John Cater, Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University said: “This new teaching and learning space provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn some of the key skills required by those wanting to enter careers in criminal justice and law enforcement in a safe and secure environment. The assistance and support we’ve received from senior police officers from across the North West demonstrates the importance of the facility, and their input has ensured our students will receive the best possible learning experiences to help them enter their chosen careers.”
In addition to the new Police Training and Simulation Facility, students studying in the School of Law, Criminology and Policing are also benefiting from the newly-developed £6m Law and Psychology building, which provides contemporary teaching and learning facilities.
The three-storey building includes a 265-seat lecture theatre, seminar and tutorial rooms, and social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning. Elsewhere on campus, there is a mooting room (a mock courtroom) where policing, law and criminology students can train and practice their advocacy skills and cross-examination techniques, as well as preparing for giving evidence in court.
Learn more about studying in the School of Law, Criminology and Policing.
June 7, 2022
