HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has received a seal of approval as part of celebrations to mark 20 years since it moved into its home.

The Earl of Wessex visited the Vickery Building at the Southern Support and Training Headquarters in Netley today.

The visit marked the 20th anniversary of the site's official opening by The Princess Royal in 2001.

The opening marked the first time control rooms across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were merged into one forcewide team.

Daily Echo: HRH the Earl of Wessex speaking to staff in the force control room.HRH the Earl of Wessex speaking to staff in the force control room.

The Earl of Wessex said: “It has been excellent seeing the teamwork and camaraderie here today. This is a side of policing that most people don’t get to see, and it is critical for officers to do their jobs on the front line, so I would like to thank you for all that you do, day in, day out.

“When you look back just on 20 years, it doesn’t seem that long – but the world has changed so much in that time.”

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson were on hand to welcome the prince, along with a guard of honour made up of student police officers.

Prince Edward was then taken on a tour of the building by temporary chief inspector Mark Barker, who manages the control room alongside chief inspector Anna Skelton.

Daily Echo: HRH the Earl of Wessex speaking to staff in the force control room.

This tour included the main control room and the gold control room – used to host multi-agency responses to major incidents, such as the reported hijacking of the Nave Andromeda tanker off the Isle of Wight in October last year.

The Earl spoke to staff and was given a presentation about the building’s history before unveiling a plaque to mark the visit and cutting a cake at a reception attended by members of staff.