Gallery: The Fake City Streets Where Cops Learn Riot Control
Photos by James Rawlings01JRawlings-Control2014-24-2000
The Specialist Training Centre was built in 2003 to train London's Metro Division in the tools and tactics of urban riot control.
Photos by James Rawlings02JRawlings-Control2014-14-2000
The 3.5 square mile facility in Gravesend, England has a full stable of horses, vehicles, weapons, and other tactical staples of the UK riot police.
Photos by James Rawlings03JRawlings-Control2014-26-2000
Even though the combat is simulated, participants wear full riot gear and have to get used to confronting real physical force.
Photos by James Rawlings04JRawlings-Control2014-31-2000
Live petrol bombs are also used in the training.
Photos by James Rawlings05JRawlings-Control2014-20-2000
Most of the buildings in the imaginary city under siege are just facades, like the ones you'd find on the set of a movie.
Photos by James Rawlings06JRawlings-Control2014-34-2000
In the downtown section, buildings are more fully realize, allowing officers to practice structure entry and clearing tactics.
Photos by James Rawlings07JRawlings-Control2014-15-2000
Rawling's initial interest was sparked by the idea that an entire town was constructed just to simulate conflict - a place where conflict reigns even when no one is there.
Photos by James Rawlings08JRawlings-Control2014-17-2000
By pitching the photos as an art project, Rawlings may have sidestepped some of the concerns of officials worried about his motives. It still took him about seven months to gain access.
Photos by James Rawlings09JRawlings-Control2014-32-2000
Rawlings wasn't allowed to photograph the officers' faces, significantly limiting his photographic options.
Photos by James Rawlings10JRawlings-Control2014-19-2000
The facility is also host to a live fire weapons training, but Rawlings wasn't allowed to visit those areas.
Photos by James Rawlings11JRawlings-Control2014-21-2000
Rawlings shoots on film, lending to a slower and more considered approach and less the fast-paced, action-oriented photography that often comes from the scene of a riot.
Photos by James Rawlings12JRawlings-Control2014-23-2000
Also included on site are life sized sections of an aircraft, sports stadium, and underground rail for more specific forms of training.
Photos by James Rawlings13JRawlings-Control2014-25-2000
The signs of conflict in the series often sit in stark contrast to the tightly controlled environment where they occurred.
Photos by James Rawlings14JRawlings-Control2014-27-2000
As part of the exercises, officers in riot gear face off against other officers playing the role of rioters.
Photos by James Rawlings15JRawlings-Control2014-28
Another restriction Rawlings faced was that he couldn't shoot from ground level during exercises, forcing him to find ways for shooting from elevated angles. Unlike the petrol bombs, the bricks in this photo are fake.
Photos by James Rawlings16JRawlings-Control2014-29-2000
Access to the site is strictly controlled -- even after gaining clearance, Rawlings was stopped several times by officers who didn't know why he was there.
Photos by James Rawlings17JRawlings-Control2014-33-2000
An assistant helped the photographer switch between loaded and spent film cameras without having to take a break from shooting.
Photos by James Rawlings18JRawlings-Control2014-30-2000
While this portion of Architecture of Control is complete, Rawlings says he's interested in pursuing the topic in new ways. He says that could include more metaphorical takes on the notion of conflict, including the realms of interpersonal communication and psychology.
