Man arrested after security breach at police training centre

A man has been arrested following an incident involving a knife at a police station in Co Antrim.

A man armed with a knife gained access to a police training facility in Steeple on Sunday June 11, it was reported on the BBC’s Stephen Nolan show.

It was reported that a man waved a knife at two guards in a security hut before going into the complex, where he tried to access buildings. He was said to have left after 40 minutes.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson said an internal review of site security had since been carried out.

In a statement, the PSNI said it could confirm that a security breach had taken place at Steeple Training Estate, Antrim, on Sunday June 11.

“A criminal investigation is under way and our enquiries are ongoing,” the force said.

“A 43-year-old man was arrested and has since been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and will appear in Antrim Court on July 25.”

The statement continued: “We take the safety of our officers and staff extremely seriously and, as a result of the incident, have conducted an internal review of site security in line with existing procedure.

“We can confirm that all buildings within the training facility were secured and no access was gained.”

DUP Policing Board member and South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke called for answers from police after the security breach.

“This incident is concerning in itself, but the fact that it follows a previous security breach in Newtownards is particularly troubling. There are a range of issues where I will be pressing for answers from the PSNI at the Policing Board,” he said.

“These issues also raise questions about the security provided at stations and whether it is fit for purpose. We need to know what knowledge there was of the incident as it was happening live, and was it monitored at that time.

“This is not just about the security of those within the police station at the time, but the safety of the wider public too as it involved a man brandishing a knife.

“At a time the police officers are facing a heightened security threat, they too deserve to know that there is adequate protection provided in the one place where their safety should be assured – within the confines of PSNI property.”