No bent coppers as star Vicky opens joint HQ
STAR CUTS RIBBON ON NEW £18.5M POLICE AND FIRE COMPLEX
LINE Of Duty star Vicky Mcclure has officially opened the multimillion-pound joint headquarters for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Vicky, known to millions as Detective Inspector Kate Fleming from anti-corruption unit AC-12 in the BBC hit drama, cut the ribbon to open the new HQ.
The Nottingham actress was given a guided tour of the force’s professional standards department, the control room, digital forensics and operational support facilities by Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
Vicky was accompanied by her fiance Jonny Owen, director of hit Nottingham Forest film I Believe In Miracles.
They saw new recruits at their passing-out parade and enjoyed a performance by the Nottinghamshire Police Band.
Vicky said: “It’s a real honour to be asked here and see the incredible work that’s being done.
“You don’t tend to get access to these kind of facilities so I do feel really lucky to get this opportunity. The new building is really great and it’s clear the people inside it are working really hard.
“It’s been a real honour to meet people knowing they’re trying to keep people safe.”
Construction work on the £18.5 million three-storey headquarters began in 2020 at Sherwood Lodge, Arnold. It contains shared office space, a training school, conference rooms, a sports hall, gymnasium and canteen.
Led by the main contractor Henry Brothers Midlands, other developments include a circular access road, an outdoor exercise trail for staff and a joint memorial garden, dedicated to staff from both organisations who died in service.
Mr Guildford said: “I was delighted to welcome Vicky and Jonny to our joint headquarters and am extremely grateful to them for officially opening our new building.
“We have a lot of Line Of Duty fans in the force and it was nice to be able to reward their hard work with today’s visit. “We’re really proud of our new building and how we are working together with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to better serve the public and also save money. “It’s a project Vicky could relate to given AC-12 underwent its own merger last year. “She also knows a thing or two about ‘bent coppers’ and I’m pleased to report she did not have any concerns after meeting our officers and staff.”
Chief Fire Officer Craig Parkin added: “We really enjoyed welcoming Vicky and Jonny here and showing them the great work, our staff do to keep communities safe. We’re particularly proud that Pulp Friction, a social enterprise that supports people with learning disabilities, are running the canteen here and providing excellent food, as they did for us at our old headquarters.”
We have a lot of Line Of Duty fans in the force and it was nice to be able to reward their hard work
Craig Guildford