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New constables 'lack key skills' New constables 'lack key skills'
(20 minutes later)
New police recruits are leaving training college without skills needed to investigate crimes like assault and burglary, a watchdog has found.New police recruits are leaving training college without skills needed to investigate crimes like assault and burglary, a watchdog has found.
The Criminal Justice Inspectorate has called for a review of police training arrangements following its survey.The Criminal Justice Inspectorate has called for a review of police training arrangements following its survey.
It said newly-qualified constables often arrived at stations without skills needed to investigate the necessary range of crimes.It said newly-qualified constables often arrived at stations without skills needed to investigate the necessary range of crimes.
The PSNI said a new programme was being incorporated into training courses.The PSNI said a new programme was being incorporated into training courses.
The inspectorate assesses various strands of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.The inspectorate assesses various strands of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.
It has been looking at the PSNI's approach to "volume crime", a category which includes offences such as assaults, domestic burglaries, thefts and criminal damage.It has been looking at the PSNI's approach to "volume crime", a category which includes offences such as assaults, domestic burglaries, thefts and criminal damage.
Brendan McGuigan, deputy chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, said the quality of police investigations into such offences - which made up two-thirds (82,081) of total recorded crime in 2005-06 (123,194) - was erratic.Brendan McGuigan, deputy chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, said the quality of police investigations into such offences - which made up two-thirds (82,081) of total recorded crime in 2005-06 (123,194) - was erratic.
'Skills gap''Skills gap'
He said probationer constables in their first two years of service often "lacked sufficient investigative skills to deal with the range of investigations they were expected to undertake".He said probationer constables in their first two years of service often "lacked sufficient investigative skills to deal with the range of investigations they were expected to undertake".
"While local district command units have attempted to fill this perceived skills gap through their own training arrangements, (we have) recommended that a fully inclusive consultation process is implemented to identify the skills and knowledge required by officers carrying out investigations in DCUs," he said."While local district command units have attempted to fill this perceived skills gap through their own training arrangements, (we have) recommended that a fully inclusive consultation process is implemented to identify the skills and knowledge required by officers carrying out investigations in DCUs," he said.
"Training at the police college should then be tailored to the specifications identified through this process.""Training at the police college should then be tailored to the specifications identified through this process."
In response, the police said they have introduced a new programme which is being incorporated into all relevant training courses.In response, the police said they have introduced a new programme which is being incorporated into all relevant training courses.
A statement said officers, including senior investigating officers, had already begun this training, and it would be extended to other officers from next March. They said in a statement that officers, including senior investigating officers, had already begun this training, and it would be extended to other officers from next March.