Force celebrates opening of new stables

West Midlands Police has officially opened stables that are now home to its mounted unit, nearly two decades after the last unit was disbanded.

Seven police horses, ridden by two sergeants and 12 PCs, will be based at the newly-built stables at the Tally Ho Training Centre on Pershore Road in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Horses were reintroduced by the force in December to help maintain order at major public events like football matches, after the previous unit closed in 1999.

Scott Green, acting chief constable, said the animals were a "fantastic asset to have" and would help officers to "keep the public safe".

"The horses alone can move crowds of people in a way that takes lots of officers to do so, they also give the officers a really clear viewpoint of crowds and groups of people," Green said.

A formal display of the horses to celebrate the opening took place in front of crowds at the base.

Green said the facility, which replaced two bowling greens, had cost about £2.5m.

"We think that's money that's been really well spent and really well invested," he explained.

"It'll cost us about £8,000 a year to house and care for those horses."

The force has plans to increase the number of horses on site to 14 in the future.

"The most important thing to us is the temperament," Rick Dipper, mounted unit trainer, said of the new additions.

"They have to be bold and brave. We work with the horse during the training phase to make sure that they're happy to do the job."

The new mounted unit will carry out a variety of work across the region, including routine patrols and safety and security for sporting events, concerts and ceremonial events.

Sgt Katie Masterson said: "We all muck out, we all do the feed, we do everything.

"We have a few different things thrown in. We do key policing as well."

Former mounted police officers were invited back to join in the celebrations, including Kay Lenyk, who became the first female mounted officer in the West Midlands in June 1985.

"For me it was just like, 'Sit on that horse, the horse knows what it's doing, get on with it'," Lenyk told the BBC.

"These people are having to learn as they go, so it's a lot harder for them than it was for me."

"I really wish them all the luck in the world," added Stephen Gwilt, another retired mounted officer.

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