Centrex closures
Centrex is to close three of its training sites as a result of the introduction of the Home Offices new Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP).
The authority has announced the closure of its sites in Ashford, Bruche and Cwmbran.
It said the closures, to take place in May 2006, were a direct result of the change from the current Probationer Training Programme (PTP) to the IPLDP.
While the PTP was designed to be delivered regionally, the new scheme intends for probationers to be trained in force.
Centrexs remaining site at Ryton will no longer deliver probationer training but will remain open as a multi-function training centre.
Police officers and staff employed and seconded to the training centres to close have been notified and Centrex said it was doing everything in its power to redeploy staff although unfortunately, there may be some redundancies.
A spokeswomen said: Some people may want to take early retirement, or some officers may want to return to their force. Im sure forces will have a need for their expertise.
“This decision has been taken in full consultation with the Home Office and ACPO,” added Norman Bettison, Chief Executive of Centrex. “We have informed our staff now in order to give everyone time to consider their future plans, and will be working through a formal process of notification over the coming months.
“Centrex staff and seconded officers have been responsible for training literally tens of thousands of new recruits to the police service over the years. They have done a marvellous job and I am very proud of what we have achieved. It is regrettable that some staff will no longer be engaged in their current role.
“I need to emphasise that the closure of these three centres across the UK does not in any way diminish Centrex`s commitment to helping to develop policing – we continue to work with forces to deliver specialist training, operational support and consultation services.”
The Police Federation of England and Wales has reacted angrily to the planned closures.
Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said she would be writing to Centrex to express his disappointment.
She added: ” It is a disgrace that the first we know of the planned closures of these three training schools is via a press release issued by Centrex announcing a done deal. At no time did anyone think to talk to us, to gauge our views as to whether this is the right decision to take and the appropriate time to make it.
“The new Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) has yet to be fully evaluated. We need to make sure that there are appropriate quality assurance mechanisms in place to ensure a consistent level of training is delivered across the 43 forces in England and Wales. That currently is not the case.