PSNI watchdog's warning on training college

A police watchdog today warned against any delay in building the North’s new £134m (€198m) police-training college.

Oversight Commissioner Al Hutchinson also claimed it was critical the British government honours a pledge to pay for the academy to be built near Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

His latest assessment on reforms to the police service focused on training as one of the most crucial areas of the Patten blueprint for overhauling the force.

“Training is central to the entire police change programme, with 51 recommendations relating either specifically or indirectly to training.

“The practical delivery of training is largely being accomplished within the constraints of available time and resources.

“This has resulted in the creation of both innovative training programmes and demonstrable results.”

Although 114 of the 175 Patten recommendations have been completed, Mr Hutchinson insisted the new college to replace the crumbling Garnerville complex in east Belfast does not slip.

Policing representatives heading up the project revealed last month that the state-of-the-art facilities will cost £50m (€73.9m) more than first expected and will not be completed until 2009 – a year later than anticipated.

The new bill was finalised after factoring in land costs and fees. Radical changes to the original plans have added further to the expense of building what those in charge of the scheme insist will be world-class facilities.

Mr Hutchinson, a former Assistant Commissioner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, called for no delay.

He said: “Some longer-term concerns remain, not least the desire to ensure that the new Police College, which is needed to replace the ageing training facility at Garnerville, adheres to its completion schedule.

“It will be critically important for the government to stick to its financial obligations and commitments to build this important symbol of the new beginning for policing.”

The commissioner also referred to gaps between training at district level and at the centre, illuminating the lack of a system for transferring knowledge from outside courses and conferences officers attend.

“These illustrate the importance of addressing what might presently be described as strategic challenges, before these become too entrenched and potentially insoluble,” he said.

“Another example would be the reorganisation which will be necessitated by the Northern Ireland Review of Public Administration, and its significant potential impacts on the provision of training across the PSNI.”