TWO police forces are teaming up to provide a new training regime for probationer officers.

Durham has joined forces with neighbouring Northumbria to introduce the training format, the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP), starting in April.

Under a national shake-up, the way recruits are introduced to policing and developed as new officers will change.

It means the existing Durham site of the national police training body Centrex wil close at the end of March.

Although Centrex will continue as a training advisory and co-ordinating body, individual forces will have to take responsibility for training recruits during the first months of their police careers.

Classroom-based learning will take place in buildings previously leased to Centrex, alongside force headquarters, at Aykley Heads, Durham.

It will be staffed by qualified training officers from both forces, headed by a chief inspector from Durham.

Trainees will undergo temporary attachments to outside bodies, such as housing departments, probation and social services and to groups considered "hard to reach" for police, such as ethnic and youth groups.

The aim is to offer a broader understanding of the needs of the areas which officers will serve in during their police career.

Probationers must complete four phases of learning over 31 weeks, before beginning independent patrols within their command area.

Durham's project manager Superintendent James McAloon said: "Every stage will be kept under constant review and in time, as with any new programme, there will undoubtedly be changes.

"But the overall benefit will be the professionalising of the process, with probationer officers having to achieve nationally agreed levels of competency and accreditation."