PCC awards winner of art competition at new Broadland Police Station
To celebrate the opening of the new police station at Broadland Gate, Police and Crime Commissioner, Giles Orpen-Smellie, was invited to take part in a special community event last week.
Local primary school children were asked to draw what they thought policing would be like in the future. The PCC was part of a panel of judges to select the winner from entries submitted by local school children.
The winning entry was drawn by seven year-old Subikshan Saravana Kumar from Hillside Academy. His drawing is now displayed in the entrance of the new station alongside runner-up entries.
As the winner, Subik got to place a time capsule in the ground with the entries stored inside. This will be opened in 50 years’ time on the exact anniversary date. Giles also got to present Subik with a certificate to commemorate his winning artwork.
Subik and his parents were then taken on a tour of the new station meeting police dogs Flo and Lottie, learning about the drones the police use and getting his fingerprints taken by Crime Scene Investigators.
Giles said: “It was an absolute joy to welcome Subik and his parents to our new station. Subik’s entry was a clear winner showing what policing might look like in the future.
“One of the priorities of my Police, Crime and Community Safety Plan is to ensure that Norfolk Constabulary is sustainable. Broadland Gate will future-proof the delivery of policing services for a long time to come, equipping our workforce with modern and innovative tools and technology to serve Norfolk residents effectively and efficiently.
“The new station is also an important step toward what I describe as ‘Green Policing’. All the materials used were sourced and delivered to site in ways that minimised carbon emissions. The building will operate going forward with a wide range of green features. Future proofing is not just about sustaining the Constabulary’s policing but also about playing our part in the wider green agenda.”
The development of Broadland Police Station marks the final project of a five-year modernisation programme, helping the force become ‘fit for the future’.
Broadland works alongside its sister-station in Swaffham bringing together specialist resources from the force’s Safeguarding and Investigations command equipped with the technological capabililty and resources to tackle complex crime in a digital age.
It also sees improved facilities for frontline and neighbourhood policing, Road and Armed Policing Teams with teams re-locating from Acle and Sprowston along with Crime Scene Investigators.