Phase 1 complete! The Hydra Foundation has installed a new Hydra in the Cloud Suite within the University of South Wales, building upon the excellent Hydra research and training taking place at the University.   Watch this space for news on Phase 2.

This week sees the Hydra Foundation upgrade the Avon and Somerset Police Hydra Suite to Hydra in the Cloud.

“The Australian Federal Police recently ran a two day Hydra scenario focussed on financial crime and corruption. This scenario was developed specifically for executive level investigation managers from all Australian Commonwealth agencies, and is designed to draw out non-traditional disruption options while gaining an increased understanding of each other’s capabilities. The scenario was also attended by members from the Hong Kong and Singapore police forces, allowing the participants to discuss the challenges of successful collaboration and to develop valuable networks with international partners”. - 

JAMES O'BRIEN, INVESTIGATIONS LEADERSHIP & SPECIALIST TRAINING

This week saw the Hydra team at Hertfordshire police upgrade to Hydra in the Cloud.  The Hydra Foundation spent the week in Hertfordshire upgrading the old Hydra 6 suite to run the new Hydra in the Cloud methodologies.  

Following the training run by Steve Butterworth of the Hydra Foundation the team are now able to  design and run Hydra in the Cloud exercises using these new Hydra methodologies  enhancing excisiting training and developing new Hydra events along with a different way of working increasing flexibility and easy of use.

This week saw Dyfed-Powys Police start to use Hydra in the Cloud, becoming the first Welsh force into the Hydra Cloud.   The Hydra Foundation carried out the upgrade installation work to commission the new and existing Hydra Suite technology to work with the new Cloud methodology.  Following onsite training, the Hydra team are now busy preparing to run their first Hydra in the Cloud exercise.

This week saw Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service upgrade their Hydra Suite to run Hydra in the Cloud.  This upgrade gives Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue the opportunity to now further develop their use of Hydra and expand their delivery of operational Training.  Following the delivery of an onsite training event, the Oxford Hydra team see excitiing opportunities for enhancing exisiting and developing new training.

This week saw LAPD upgrade to Hydra in the Cloud with further training and events running later this month.    The Hydra Foundation completed the upgrade during an intensive 8 day program in Los Angeles, USA.

This week the Hydra Foundation upgraded the Hydra 6 suite at Surrey Police making them the 20th centre to join the Hydra in the Cloud community.   The Hydra team at Surrey Police have been working with the foundation over the last 18 months to develop their existing suite to support Hydra in the Cloud and have now successfully achieved this, supported by the Foundation.   

Surrey Police are now live and will shortly be running their first Hydra in the Cloud exercise.   Steve Butterworth, Vice President Learning Technolgies said, "...We are proud to have supported the team in Surrey to deliver on their vision of becoming a Hydra in the Cloud centre .  We are looking forward to supporting them further as they become an active member with in the Hydra in the Cloud community..."

This week the 19th Hydra centre started to begin its preperations to move across to Hydra in the Cloud with a further 4 centres progressing to achieve Cloud status within the next 6 months.   VP Learning Technologies, Steve Butterworth is currently working with these centres to prepare them ready for launch.

British Transport Police London have now upgraded their Hydra Suite in West Kensington to the latest Hydra in the Cloud Technology.   The Hydra Foundation carried out the upgrade last week improving the existing facilities to work with the latest methodologies of Hydra in the Cloud.    Work will continue in Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow over the next two weeks to beginning linking these locations to the main Hydra Suites in Liverpool and London. 

The Hydra Foundation have now installed and commissioned Hydra in the Cloud for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service at their new training centre.   This is now the 2nd Fire service to run Hydra in the Cloud, the first being North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.    Professor Jonathan Crego MBE, Hydra Foundation Director, described the North East Fire Services as pioneering the use of Hydra in the Cloud.   The centre opened in August 2015 is used by Durham Constabulary as part of a collaborative project in using Hydra methodology.   Training by the Hydra Foundation was provided with the first exercise due to be delivery shortly.

In March the Hydra Foundation completed the upgrade of both the College of Policing Hydra sites at Ryton and Harperley Hall.  The Foundation carried out the upgrade of new computer technology along with a redesign and installation of control room new visual display system.   9 syndicate rooms have also been upgraded with new display screens and AV control panels.    This new design allows for a more effective Hydra environment and an improved immersive learning experience. 

A new Hydra Control Room has been built and commisioned at Canterbury Christ Church University.    The Hydra Foundation team installed the new Hydra screens and audio monitoring system last week once the building refurbishment at Canterbury had been completed. 

Earlier this week the Hydra Foundation team upgraded the Hydra Suite for Northants Police at the University of Northampton site.   The Hydra Suite is a joint venture between the University and Police and is now running the latest version of Hydra, Hydra in the Cloud.

At last weeks UK Fire Minerva Hydra User Group meeting, Professor Jonathan Crego MBE, Hydra Foundation Director, presented Station Manager Malcolm Farrow with a Lifetime Fellowship for his passion, commitment and dedication to the development of the Hydra User Group for the UK Fire Service.  

Malcolm has chaired the Hydra User Group in the Fire Service for the last 5 years and anounced he was steping down as chair.    The Hydra Foundation thanks Malcolm for his support and commitment. 

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Hydra in the Cloud suite goes live following a 3 month design, build and commisioning phase with the Hydra Foundation.    The new Hydra in the Cloud suite, the first for the UK Fire and Rescue Service consists of state of the art technology with iPad technology intergrated into Hydra in the Cloud.   The new suite consists of 4 syndicate rooms, incident command vehicle, control room and plenary room.

A new Hydra in the Cloud, Hydra Suite is now fully operational at the British Transport Police site in Liverpool.  The Hydra Foundation has designed, built and commisioned this new suite using state of the art technology which consists of 4 syndicate rooms, control room and large plenary room with dual use training facilities. 

The Hydra Foundation and FLETC team have completed the new Hydra Suite building at the training centre in Brunswick, Georgia.

The Hydra Suite at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre starts to take shape with the first stage of the technical installation starting in July. 

The 1st live Hydra exercise, Exercise Peninsula, was delivered in the Hydra Suite at Victoria Police today for Victoria Police Sergeants.   The exercise was facilitated by Vic. Police accredited Hydra Facilitators.