Greener policing in action: A Visit to Gloucestershire Constabulary’s decarbonisation projects
Gloucestershire Constabulary are part of the UK’s journey to net zero.
Behind every 999 call, every emergency response, and every moment of calm reassurance in crisis, there’s a team working tirelessly to keep people safe, and the buildings they work in matter more than we often realise. From control rooms buzzing with calls to custody suites that never sleep, Gloucestershire Constabulary is proving that even the most complex frontline services can be part of the UK’s journey to net zero.
On 30 July 2025, members of the Salix team visited the force’s headquarters in Gloucester to see first-hand how this ambition is becoming a reality. Over the past two years, the Constabulary has completed significant low carbon upgrades across its estate, beginning with three operational sites under PSDS Phase 3a, and more recently focusing on its secure custody centre, Compass House, through Phase 3c. Theirs is a case which shows not just technical progress, but a deep commitment to long-term change - for the climate, for the service, and for the people behind it.
The work began in July 2023 with the completion of upgrades at the Gloucestershire Tri-Service Emergency Centre (GTEC), along with Stroud and Coleford police stations. At GTEC, the home of the Force control room, air source heat pumps were installed alongside rooftop solar PV. Coleford and Stroud benefitted from a combination of heat pumps and insulation works.
Delivering low carbon systems into such high-pressure environments required careful coordination, particularly at GTEC, where critical emergency infrastructure had to stay online throughout.
GTEC presented a unique challenge. We were upgrading internal systems, including radiators, in a live emergency control environment, so we had to complete the work in carefully managed sections. This ensured that emergency calls could continue to be answered without interruption.
It was an extremely complex coordination task, but essential to maintain 24/7 operations. Alongside the heating upgrade, we also introduced rooftop solar panels, taking a whole-building approach to sustainability.
Mandy Gibbs, environmental manager and project manager for the Constabulary said: “GTEC presented a unique challenge. We were upgrading internal systems, including radiators, in a live emergency control environment, so we had to complete the work in carefully managed sections. This ensured that emergency calls could continue to be answered without interruption.
It was an extremely complex coordination task, but essential to maintain 24/7 operations. Alongside the heating upgrade, we also introduced rooftop solar panels, taking a whole-building approach to sustainability.”
During the visit, our team had the chance to see GTEC’s control room live in action. Officers were fielding emergency calls, managing missing persons, and coordinating frontline support in real time. One officer noted that several missing persons cases had been logged that morning alone, with the number reduced by 2pm.
It was a powerful moment that highlighted just how intense and fast-paced the work is and just how vital it is that these buildings perform reliably. Seeing first-hand how the building supports such high-pressure, round-the-clock work put the decarbonisation efforts into clear perspective.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Evans shared how this type of investment supports both the police estate and the people within it.
He said: “Policing is a people’s game. Seventy five percent of our budget goes to staffing and it’s all from one pot. So whatever we can save on energy can be redirected towards key aspects of law enforcement, ultimately reducing crime while we are reducing our carbon footprint.
“It’s a unique environment too. Police operate 24/7 to be ready for 999 calls and dispatch so working around that was essential. The operation of buildings is key and increasing efficiency has a huge impact on so many core elements.”
He also spoke about the responsibility the Constabulary feels for its people. Nick added: “On any given day our staff might get a call from someone experiencing the worst day of their life. So it’s essential we create an environment in which they feel looked after and seen. If they need a minute, they can go to the quiet room that we have especially for those moments. We don’t want that compound trauma – officer and staff welfare is very important. It can be a very traumatic job – it’s very important to look after people.”
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire is responsible for the estate that Constabulary staff work from.
Building on the momentum of the Phase 3a sites, the Constabulary turned its attention to Compass House, the force’s secure custody centre in Gloucester. Completed in March 2025 under PSDS Phase 3c, the project installed five air source heat pumps to replace the gas system.
Thanks to the modern construction of the building, no insulation upgrades were needed, and the team were able to focus fully on delivering an efficient, future-proofed heating system.
The decision to concentrate all Phase 3c funding on Compass House followed a strategic review in late 2024, after other potential sites were ruled out due to eligibility constraints or long-term estate planning. The result was a more focused and impactful retrofit, with minimal disruption to operations in a sensitive, high-security environment.
Delivering a retrofit in such a sensitive environment required a meticulous planning process. Steve Imm, Senior Responsible Owner for the Compass House project, explained:
“Custody is a high-risk, high-security environment, which means planning has to account for a wide range of variables. The number of people coming into the suite can change day by day, so predicting quieter periods and planning around them is essential, but not always straightforward.
In policing, everything is tightly regulated, and that extends to our estate. We had to be meticulous in balancing the retrofit with security protocols, safeguarding, and operational continuity. It was a complex process, but absolutely necessary to get right.”
Together, the Phase 3a and 3c projects represent over £2.6 million of investment into decarbonising Gloucestershire’s police estate and a real example of how climate ambition and operational excellence can go hand in hand. The upgrades are already reducing energy use and improving comfort across the sites, with more savings expected as the systems continue through their first full heating seasons.
Kevin Holland, chief executive of Salix, shared his impressions following the visit.
He said :“I was really impressed today visiting the Gloucester Police HQ. Some of the heat pump installations were clearly high quality, both well-specified and well installed to meet the urgency and continuity that a police service requires. I understand they run high-temperature circulation, which is a great advance.
“More importantly, it was humbling to see the service in action and hear how they have to manage their people and the people they engage with. We work hard on our approvals, delegations and policies - the ones they have to deal with directly affect often vulnerable people in tense situations.
“Credit to them for their work (and many are volunteers) and credit to our team and theirs for a great PSDS installation.”
Reflecting on the day, Zoe Wragg said: “It was great to see the projects up close and meet the people behind them. You can really tell how much thought has gone into making these changes work for everyone in the organisation. Even in such a complex, 24/7 setting, the team have shown that sustainable choices are possible and can make a huge difference.”
The visit underscored how thoughtful collaboration between public sector teams and delivery partners like Salix can unlock sustainable change in even the most challenging operational settings - bringing lasting benefits to people, services, and the planet.
Policing is a people’s game. Seventy five percent of our budget goes to staffing and it’s all from one pot. So whatever we can save on energy can be redirected towards key aspects of law enforcement, ultimately reducing crime while we are reducing our carbon footprint.
