Police training exercise due in Swynnerton area on Thursday

Residents in and around Stone may notice an increased police presence on Thursday 19 March 2026, as Staffordshire Police carries out a large training exercise with partner agencies.

The force says the operation, called Exercise Shieldline, is aimed at improving its response to public order incidents. It is due to run from 8am until 2pm.

According to Staffordshire Police, the exercise will take place in the Swynnerton area, as well as at policing posts in the south of the county. A number of officers will be involved, with people also role playing parts of a public order incident to test how emergency services respond.

What people in the area might notice

Police have warned that people in the Stafford and Stone area may see unusual activity during the exercise.

That will include a visible police presence, and the force has confirmed that firearms officers will be involved alongside police staff in support roles. A command structure will also be operating from police headquarters in Stafford.

The original community notice, shared ahead of the exercise, said the training would take place in the local area and would lead to an increased policing presence. It added that the exercise is designed to make sure officers are trained, equipped and prepared to keep the public safe.

Police say exercise is about readiness

Armed Policing Chief Inspector Chris Cotton said:

“We would like to reassure the community that any unusual activity you may see in the Stafford and Stone area on 19 March is likely to be part of this training exercise, which is vital to ensure our readiness to respond to emergency public order call-outs.

“I would like to thank local people for their ongoing support and understanding as we carry out this exercise and hope it demonstrates how we are committed to working with partners to deliver the best possible response to protect the public from harm.”

The exercise is scheduled for Thursday morning and early afternoon, rather than overnight, and Staffordshire Police has framed it as a planned training event rather than a response to any live incident.

Anyone with concerns about issues in their community is being asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, use the live chat service on the force website, or call 999 in an emergency.