The Police Treatment Centres trace their roots back to Catherine Gurney, who took a deep interest in the welfare of Police Officers. In the late 1800s, Catherine, who had worked with the poor in London, became dedicated to supporting those in the Police Service.
In 1889, after a young Policeman was placed in a convalescent home but had to leave early due to being placed in a bed next to a convicted criminal, Catherine decided to take action. The following year, she opened the Southern Police Convalescent Home on the South Coast, providing Police Officers a safe space for recovery.
The demand from Northern Police Forces soon led to the opening of a second home in Harrogate in 1897. Initially housed within St George’s House, a Police Orphanage, a new dedicated building was constructed in 1899, costing £10,000 (equivalent to £1.3 million today). Generous donations from the public and Police Forces made this possible.
Since then, the Harrogate Centre, known as St Andrews, has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of Police work. In 1996, a second facility opened in Auchterarder, Perthshire, marking a major expansion.
Both our Harrogate and Auchterarder Centres are constantly upgraded to provide first-class wellbeing and rehabilitation services. Recent projects have included the creation of sensory gardens, significant upgrades to physiotherapy and fitness facilities, and new hydrotherapy pools.
In 2021, the Harrogate Centre proudly opened a new Clinical Services Wing, increasing our capacity to treat Police Officers dealing with psychological trauma and enhancing our range of services.
We remain committed to improving and expanding our services, ensuring we continue to adapt to the changing landscape of modern policing and that the Police Family receive the highest standard of care as they recover and rebuild.
