KENT Police are appealing to property owners to volunteer vacant buildings for use in training firearms officers.

As part of their training, firearms officers are required to carry out practice searches in vacant premises such as houses, warehouses, schools and hospitals.

Some of the training will involve hostage rescue scenarios where officers may have to damage doors, windows or walls by way of gaining entry. Therefore buildings that are scheduled to be refurbished are ideal and would allow such damage to be caused.

Other training involves silent, slow methodical searches where no damage would be caused to the property at all.

Kent Police Legal Services will be able to provide indemnity policies to cover the owners from any liability should unforeseen damage or injury occur to Kent Police employees while training. No live ammunition will be used during the training.

If you would like to help in the training of officers by volunteering a property contact PC Mark Jewiss on 01622 654 895.