Hain announces proposal for training college

An innovative way forward has been found over the building of a new modern police training college, Secretary of State Peter Hain has today said.

A new state of the art college, catering for the training needs of the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire Service and Northern Ireland Prison Service, will be built on the Desertcreat site at Cookstown.

Speaking at the International Policing Conference the Secretary of State said: “This is an exciting opportunity which fulfils a key Patten recommendation. The new facility will provide excellent training facilities to meet the specialist needs of each of the organisations and provide new opportunities for joint training.

“This is an innovative proposal – the first of its kind in the UK - which has only been possible because of the fresh thinking of those involved.

“Of paramount importance will be the ability of the new college to deliver quality training, and I believe that this integrated approach is the best way to achieve this.”

The building of the new integrated college represents a significant financial commitment and a new, combined business case will go to the Treasury for approval.

The Secretary of State also told delegates that the conference is a wonderful opportunity for Northern Ireland to put on public display how the Police Service of Northern Ireland has gone through one of the greatest change programmes of any public organisation throughout the world.

He said: “The theme of the conference, ‘Policing the Future’ is an appropriate title for this event as Northern Ireland looks forward and outwards, taking best practice from other policing regions, sharing experiences from around the world and using that experience for the benefit of our communities.”

The Secretary of State also reaffirmed, following the McCord Report, the importance of intelligence work for effective policing.

He said: “No police service can operate properly without intelligence. Intelligence gathering is a vital part of police work, it is also a difficult, and sometimes dangerous, job.

“I would like to pay tribute to those who work, and who have worked, in this vital area of policing, often at high cost to family life and sometimes in danger. I have met many of them, and I know them to be dedicated officers, who do the job with commitment and integrity.”

Mr Hain continued: “The nature of their work means that their successes cannot be made public, but their work has saved lives. It continues to deliver results today, including saving lives, preventing violence and thwarting serious crime.

“Of course, intelligence gathering, like any area of policing, must be accountable. In Northern Ireland it is: we have accountability arrangements that work. Where any police officer does wrong, he will be held to account. But let’s not allow the excellent work of the many to be tarnished by the failures of the few.”

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton welcomed the fact that the Patten vision in respect of policing training is on course to be delivered with the building of a new Police College outside Cookstown.

He said: "I am delighted that a way forward in respect of the police college has now been agreed and I welcome the Secretary of State's announcement that, in what will be a first in the UK, Northern Ireland will combine its police, prison service and fire and rescue training in a purpose-built college at Desertcreat, outside Cookstown.

“This is an important development and means that the training facilities that are so badly needed will now be delivered. Police training will be brought together in a single purpose built facility that will also enable the development of joint training opportunities. Police officers, police staff and indeed the wider community deserve to have a police college which will be a world class centre of excellence."

(EF/KMcA)