THE police training centre which sparked controversy after racism was exposed among recruits will close next spring.

The Bruche training centre which hit the headlines with the BBC undercover documentary Secret Policeman, has been targeted as part of the restructuring of national police training.

It was revealed that the base will cease to train recruits from next May.

Centrex, the Central Police Training and Development Authority which manges the facility, said the changes mean police will be trained at individual force level.

Norman Bettison, chief executive of Centrex and former chief constable ofMerseyside Police, said: "This decision has been taken in full consultation with the Home Office and ACPO, the Association of Chief Police Officers.

"We have informed our staff today in order to give everyone time to consider their future plans, and we 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."

Two additional sites managed by the company in Cwmbran, Wales and Ashford, Kent will also close their doors.

The revelation comes as a shocking u-turn after Centrix assured the Warrington Guardian it would remain open just six months ago.

Last week a spokesman said: "When we said Bruche would not close it was obviously true at the time and has absolutely nothing to do with the documentary which was two years ago."

BRUCHE

WILL CLOSE!