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Government funding police college Government funding police college
(about 1 hour later)
The government plans to provide all the funding for a new policing college, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain is expected to announce later.The government plans to provide all the funding for a new policing college, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain is expected to announce later.
The £130m college is to be built at a site in Cookstown, County Tyrone.The £130m college is to be built at a site in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
However, it has been delayed because the government was not prepared to commit all the money needed.However, it has been delayed because the government was not prepared to commit all the money needed.
Mr Hain's proposal, which needs Treasury approval, means police officers, firefighters and prison officers will train on the same site.Mr Hain's proposal, which needs Treasury approval, means police officers, firefighters and prison officers will train on the same site.
Until now, each service had wanted to build its own training centre.
The new college will be built on a 210-acre site beside a food science centre at Desertcreat on the outskirts of Cookstown.The new college will be built on a 210-acre site beside a food science centre at Desertcreat on the outskirts of Cookstown.
An international policing conference is starting at the Waterfront Hall on Tuesday and Mr Hain is expected to make his announcement there.
This would avoid questions about why the government has delayed a project that the police say is essential for future training needs.
The conference is about improving policing and looking to the future.
Change of planChange of plan
However, the initial plan has changed and the college will no longer only be for the use of the police - the fire and rescue service and prison staff will also it.
Until now, each service had wanted to build its own training centre.
The police college would have cost around £130m, the fire service had planned a centre costing around £30m and the prison service hoped to build new facilities costing up to £10m.The police college would have cost around £130m, the fire service had planned a centre costing around £30m and the prison service hoped to build new facilities costing up to £10m.
That would have been a total cost of £170m - but the integrated college could be built for about £130m.That would have been a total cost of £170m - but the integrated college could be built for about £130m.
'State-of-the art'
An integrated college is not what the Policing Board had originally planned, but government sources have said it will be state-of-the art and among the best of its kind in Europe.An integrated college is not what the Policing Board had originally planned, but government sources have said it will be state-of-the art and among the best of its kind in Europe.
After more than three years of waiting, the board is likely to give the announcement a warm welcome.After more than three years of waiting, the board is likely to give the announcement a warm welcome.
The project still needs final approval from the Treasury - but discussions have already taken place and Mr Hain is believed to be expecting a positive response.The project still needs final approval from the Treasury - but discussions have already taken place and Mr Hain is believed to be expecting a positive response.
If he gets it, work could finally start next year.If he gets it, work could finally start next year.
It is envisaged the complex would have accommodation for more than 300 people, 40 classrooms and purpose built villages to train officers in a variety of real life situations.It is envisaged the complex would have accommodation for more than 300 people, 40 classrooms and purpose built villages to train officers in a variety of real life situations.
The college was a key recommendation in the Patten Report on police reform.The college was a key recommendation in the Patten Report on police reform.