Line of Duty star Vicky McClure has officially opened the multi-million-pound joint headquarters for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. Vicky, known to millions as Detective Inspector Kate Fleming, who works in the anti-corruption unit AC-12 in the BBC hit drama, cut the ribbon in the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 28.
The Nottingham-born actress was given a guided tour by Chief Constable Craig Guildford of the force’s professional standards department as well as the force control room, digital forensics and operational support facilities. Vicky, who also recently starred in ITV's Trigger Point, was accompanied on her tour by fiancé Jonny Owen, the director behind the film I Believe in Miracles which documented Nottingham Forest's success in Europe.
The actress saw Nottinghamshire Police’s latest recruits being welcomed into the force at their passing out parade and also enjoyed a performance by the Nottinghamshire Police Band during her visit. Vicky said: “It’s a real honour to be asked here and see the incredible work that’s being done.
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"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 joint headquarters began in the summer of 2020 at Sherwood Lodge, Arnold.
The shared blue-light facility is multi-functional, and contains shared office space, a training school, conference rooms, a new police control room, a sports hall, gymnasium and canteen. It is the centrepiece of a wider project to improve and expand the original complex from the 1970s.
Led by the main contractor Henry Brothers Midlands, other key developments include the addition of a new circular access road and the installation of an outdoor exercise trail for staff. The site also has a joint memorial garden, which is dedicated to the memory of staff from both organisations who have died in service.
Chief Constable Craig 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.
“Most of our staff based at our old headquarters have now moved to joint headquarters and are continuing to settle into their new place of work. 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 look forward to continuing work with Nottinghamshire Police at our new home, just as we collaborate together every day for the communities were here to serve.” It comes after a special performance from Vicky and her Dementia Choir at this summer's Splendour Festival.
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