Policing college plans get go-ahead in the North
Plans for a new policing training college in the North have finally been given the green light, the Northern Ireland secretary of state confirmed today.
Modernised forensic science facilities are also to be built as part of a £3.7bn (€5.2bn) spend on policing over the next three years.
Shaun Woodward said money would also be available to build new prison accommodation in the province.
The minister made the pledges as he outlined the final details of the budget for policing and security for the period 2008-11.
Money will also be spent implementing the sentencing review reforms outlined last month.
The £1.2bn (€1.7bn) annual spend equates to a 2.4% increase on the last budget announced in 2004.
Work on the new college in Cookstown, which will be built on land at the Loughry agriculture college site, is expected to begin in 2009.
It will also train Fire and Rescue Service personnel and prison officers.
The project’s future had previously been in doubt after a series of funding delays.
The facility will replace the present college at Garnerville in east Belfast.
Shaun Woodward said the new budget represented a “very good settlement” for policing and for the people of the North.
“It allows Government to build on the sustained funding of the past decade which has delivered radical policing reform and falling crime rates. It provides a sound base for the devolution of policing and justice,” he said.
“Not only are investment levels in policing well above comparable areas in the rest of the UK, allowing almost twice as many police officers per capita in Northern Ireland, but we have also secured additional funding for frontline policing and other areas of the criminal justice system.
“The outcome reflects the hard work and partnership of the Northern Ireland Office, the PSNI and the Policing Board in effectively representing the needs of Northern Ireland to the Treasury.
“Funding is in place to allow the Policing Board and the Chief Constable to continue modernising the police service – providing the resources needed to deliver community policing as well as tackle the remaining terrorist threat. It means that the current complement of 7,500 police officers can be maintained throughout the CSR period.
“The settlement will also ensure that stronger measures for protecting the public are put in place, including the new arrangements for the ending of automatic 50% remission and the introduction of stronger monitoring of offenders when they are released back into the community. It will fund the building of more prison places.
“The settlement therefore means that policing and justice have been put on a sustainable footing for the next three years.”
