Suffolk’s largest joint emergency services hub was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal today, with the new facility in Ipswich marking the latest milestone in a highly successful collaborative scheme.
The Princess Royal was joined by local dignitaries, including Suffolk’s High Sheriff, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Deputy Chief Constable and Chief Fire Officer, councillors from Suffolk County Council and the Mayor of Ipswich for the grand opening of the shared site earlier this afternoon (Tuesday, 28 March).
During her time at the new station, HRH The Princess Royal spoke to staff from Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service who have already begun to benefit from using the state-of-the-art facility.
Demonstrations of some of the fire service’s work, including water and animal rescues, also formed part of the visit, along with a tour of the building, which has undergone extensive renovations since work started on the project in December 2020.
Situated in the heart of Suffolk’s county town, the facility will help maintain public safety, ensure a swift response to incidents, and promote partnership working.
Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, commented: