The training centre, located directly above the store, will train up to 30 uniformed Metropolitan Police recruits at a time. The Met hopes it will give the recruits the opportunity to complete their training in a unique environment at the heart of the community and far removed from the classroom.
Justin King, Sainsbury's chief executive, opened the centre yesterday. He said: "This initiative is mutually beneficial in that it provides the Metropolitan Police Service with a free training facility in a prime location in Barkingside, and also gives Sainsbury's colleagues, customers and the local community the reassuring presence of police officers in the final stages of their training."
Martin Tiplady, director of HR at the Met, added: "About 20,000 shoppers visit this store every week with even more doing so in the busy weeks running up to Christmas. I like to think we make a difference in Barkingside helping to reduce crime and making Londoners feel safer. Indeed I am aware of one or two incidents where our recruits have helped out even though they have not yet concluded their training.
"This is an excellent example of organisations working together to help bring about positive change, change in the way we train our officers so they are out of the classroom and placed right into the heart of our communities where they belong. Getting to know the people and the areas they will patrol before they have even begun their career as a police officer is a good form of on-the-job-training. This is a mutually beneficial partnership which is helping to make Barkingside and London safer."
