For our last full day in Liverpool, we went to the Merseyside Police Training Academy. This is where new officers train as well as veteran officers come every few years to be re certified. I think taser training must be renewed every year and breech training must be renewed every three years. Many other training course must be renewed for various amounts of time, but I did not learn about those. The training center looks like an airplane hanger from the inside, and has a "mini town" on the inside. Training for the Matrix team I mentioned yesterday occurs here. They practice public order training. People are brought in to play "protesters" to test the police. The instructor said they don't like to use the word "riot," because it implies that there is someone in the wrong, Instead, they use the term "public disorder." In this "town" there are streets and buildings. One of the building resembles a jail house to practice booking and putting someone in a cell. There is a pub/night club building to train officers how to work in loud and dark environments. There is an actual house that aid in drills. The house set up might be different each time showing different possibilities such as locked rooms, hideaway spaces being opened or not, and alternative routes such as hatches. The top of the building allows training for jumping off the building with ropes attached. There is a section that resembles a movie theater/ stadium. And then there is a breech section which is basically a bunch of doors. One breech section is for using the single person ram. This is called, "the magic red key." There is also a two person battering ram. There are also doors to practice sawing the door open or screwing through the locks. We were able to watch a taser training demonstration. We were also able to see a breech training session and pick up the battering rams themselves. I think it is funny that the kits with the rams are called "kinetic energy kits." We were also able to participate in a drill where officers lock their shields to protect each other from flying objects and harm from the public. I was not part of the group, but I was able to throw blocks of wood at them. Finally, we were able to observe a self defense class that is offered to the public. Next, we went to a youth center to hear a presentation from a Force Architectural Liaison Officer. Their job is to design building to deter crime. For examples, many lights, no natural stairs for criminals, no paths behind house, and more. On the way back, we stopped at the Liverpool Football Stadium (soccer.) When we got back to headquarters, a few people and I explored the Beetles Museum. We also explored the Princess Docks and the Albert Docks including the Liverpool Museum. I got many pictures on the docks. Again, you will notice some of the Superlambananas. We went back to the hotel to rest and change clothes. Eleven out of the twelve students then all made our way to a pizza place called, Crust. It was some of the best pizza I have ever had, but I did not take a picture of it. Sorry there are A LOT of pictures. It is to make up for me falling behind in blogging.