Warwickshire Police has welcomed HRH The Duke of Gloucester who officially opened the force's state-of-the-art operations and communications centre at Stuart Ross House (SRH), Warwick.

Although SRH has been up and running for just over a year now, the visit recognised the team and new facility the force has to support public contact and the command of policing across the county.

Prince Richard was greeted by a number of guests, including Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe and Chief Constable Debbie Tedds. 

He also met guest of honour at the event, Brenda Ross, the widow of PC Stuart Ross, a serving officer with the force who died in 1998 and who the new building is named in memory of.

HRH was then escorted on a tour of SRH, meeting many members of Warwickshire Police's workforce, including those within the control room and a number of officers, staff and cadets who helped facilitate the event.

Prince Richard was given a tour of Stuart Ross House (image via Warwickshire Police)

At the conclusion of the visit, HRH officially opened the building with the unveiling of a new plaque to historically mark the occasion.

Chief Constable Tedds said: "Stuart Ross House is a fantastic facility within the county, providing the force with a state-of-the-art Operations and Communications Centre (OCC). 

"The OCC sits at the heart of our organisation, forming the main gateway for the public to contact us 24/7. As well as having new IT infrastructure and technology to support us in how best to respond to the public, we also have incredible members of our workforce working from here day and night to ensure the public receive the very best service possible.

"Demand has been significantly rising in the past few months, and today regularly our control room manages more calls than we have previously on the likes of New Year's Eve. All calls are prioritised on the threat and risk posed but we continue to urge members of the public to use the whole range of means available to contact the force, not least taking advantage of online services to ensure phone lines are freed up for those in urgent and critical need of immediate police help.

"The work delivered from SRH ensures the force provides consistent, high quality, locally delivered policing services.

"The official opening of this facility has been a special occasion for the force, marked by the visit and has been a proud opportunity to recognise the incredible work that staff do, day and night, to protect people from harm in Warwickshire."

HRH with Chief Constable Debbie Tedds (image via Warwickshire Police)