Construction of a new £39 million firearms training centre under way

Work has begun on a new training facility to help the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) meet national firearms accreditation criteria.

The centre, located close to Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing site, will house live fire training arenas as well as classrooms, offices and operational stores.

It will be owned and developed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and leased to the CNC.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Armitt said: “The construction of the new range is an exceptional example of working with our partners and engaging with the local community to ensure any adverse impact on residents will be minimised.

“The new training facilities represent an important and necessary step forward for the CNC, ensuring we continue to effectively deliver our mission of maintaining public safety and protecting civil nuclear sites.

“It will allow us to continue to meet the most stringent armed policing standards set by the College of Policing and UK Government regulatory standards for the protection of nuclear sites such as Sellafield.”

Construction and fit out is due to be completed by December 2017, and with plans for the facility to be fully operational by the following month.

The CNC refused to comment on whether the training centre would be affected by the Home Office’s Infrastructure Review, which included a commitment to “integrate policing infrastructure” and is considering merging national forces including the CNC and MoD Police.

The review is expected to submit a report to ministers in September.