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Chief police officers criticise recruitment and promotion reforms Chief police officers criticise recruitment and promotion reforms
(35 minutes later)
Chief police officers have strongly criticised Home Office plans to open up police recruitment warning that a system of direct entry to the "officer class" tends to be used only by paramilitary police forces. Chief police officers have strongly criticised Home Office plans to open up police recruitment, warning that a system of direct entry to the "officer class" tends to be used only by paramilitary police forces.
The Association of Chief Police Officers said that the government's radical plans to open up chief constables' jobs to experienced overseas recruits and the middle officer ranks to outsiders with business and leadership skills will not deliver the required reform. The Association of Chief Police Officers said the government's radical plans to open up chief constables' jobs to experienced overseas recruits and the middle-ranking officer roles to outsiders with business and leadership skills would not deliver the required reform.
Sir Peter Fahy, Greater Manchester's chief constable and Acpo lead on workforce development, said that chief officers were not resistant to change but warned this was one scheme that would not work. Sir Peter Fahy, Greater Manchester's chief constable and Acpo lead on workforce development, said chief officers were not resistant to change but warned that the scheme would not work.
"All chief constables have served on the beat, experiencing the reality of day to day operational policing with the public. This is the model used by other countries who have followed the British system such as the US. Bill Bratton, former chief of New York, started this way. The direct entry officer class model tends to be followed by paramilitary police forces such as the French CRS or the Italian Carabinieri." "All chief constables have served on the beat, experiencing the reality of day-to-day operational policing with the public. This is the model used by other countries who have followed the British system such as the USA. Bill Bratton, former chief of New York, started this way. The direct entry officer class model tends to be followed by paramilitary police forces such as the French CRS or the Italian Carabinieri."
He said chief officers had no problem with bringing in outside expertise and every force had civilian staff in senior leadership roles in human resources, finance and IT. But he warned that firearms operations, murder investigations and dealing with public disorder needed to be commanded by those with proven expertise and records of achievement.He said chief officers had no problem with bringing in outside expertise and every force had civilian staff in senior leadership roles in human resources, finance and IT. But he warned that firearms operations, murder investigations and dealing with public disorder needed to be commanded by those with proven expertise and records of achievement.
"Police forces are not short of talent. In fact a bigger challenge is dealing with ambitious staff frustrated by the lack of promotion opportunities. Bringing people in from outside to senior leadership positions will obviously make that more difficult," said Fahy. "There will be questions about how any direct entry scheme will work in practice, how it can be afforded and whether those already in the service can apply. Chief officers are not resistant to change but this one scheme will not bring about the degree of reform required." "Police forces are not short of talent. In fact, a bigger challenge is dealing with ambitious staff frustrated by the lack of promotion opportunities. Bringing people in from outside to senior leadership positions will obviously make that more difficult," said Fahy.
But the policing minister, Damian Green, insisted that it was vital to bring in fresh talent to the police to ensure it has the "different and better tools" needed to respond to the challenges of the next 30 years. He said he could foresee the day a British chief constable spoke with an American accent "within years rather than decades". "There will be questions about how any direct entry scheme will work in practice, how it can be afforded and whether those already in the service can apply. Chief officers are not resistant to change but this one scheme will not bring about the degree of reform required."
But the policing minister, Damian Green, insisted it was vital to bring in fresh talent to the police to ensure it has the "different and better tools" needed to respond to the challenges of the next 30 years. He said he could foresee the day a British chief constable spoke with an American accent coming "within years rather than decades".
Green said: "If you had said 10 years ago that the governor of the Bank of England would be speaking with a Canadian accent, that might have been unthinkable then. But I am told that Mark Carney is the very best central bank governor, and we are lucky to be getting him."Green said: "If you had said 10 years ago that the governor of the Bank of England would be speaking with a Canadian accent, that might have been unthinkable then. But I am told that Mark Carney is the very best central bank governor, and we are lucky to be getting him."
In a written ministerial statement, Green confirmed that the consultation on this fundamental reform of police recruitment will close on 28 March.In a written ministerial statement, Green confirmed that the consultation on this fundamental reform of police recruitment will close on 28 March.
The proposals include a fast-track inspector scheme, direct outside recruitment to the rank of superintendent, and opening up chief constable jobs to those with experience in similar roles in "common law jurisdictions" overseas. The last criteria will limit overseas recruits to the old "white Commonwealth" countries of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand plus the US.The proposals include a fast-track inspector scheme, direct outside recruitment to the rank of superintendent, and opening up chief constable jobs to those with experience in similar roles in "common law jurisdictions" overseas. The last criteria will limit overseas recruits to the old "white Commonwealth" countries of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand plus the US.
Green said: "Direct entry at senior ranks will make sure that there is access to the best pool of talent, those who have proven leadership and business skills who can bring with them fresh thinking from other sectors."Green said: "Direct entry at senior ranks will make sure that there is access to the best pool of talent, those who have proven leadership and business skills who can bring with them fresh thinking from other sectors."
The consultation paper published on Wednesday proposes direct entry for up to 80 graduates a year who will be fast-tracked on a scheme that could lead to them reaching chief officer rank within 10 to 15 years instead of the current 20 to 25 years. At present all police officers must start on the beat as a constable. Direct-entry inspectors will receive 15 months' basic training. The consultation paper published on Wednesday proposes direct entry for up to 80 graduates a year who will be fast-tracked on a scheme that could lead to them reaching chief officer rank within 10 to 15 years instead of the current 20 to 25 years. At present, all police officers must start on the beat as a constable. Direct-entry inspectors will receive 15 months' basic training.