Members are being encouraged to help shape the future of the College of Policing by taking part in a fundamental review of the service.
Staffordshire Police Federation chair Phil Jones says it’s vital the review captures the views of frontline officers to help the college meet their future needs.
He said: “Policing is an ever-changing landscape. We’re recruiting new officers, we continue to police the pandemic and with technology advancing we’re facing new types of crime.
“It’s important the College of Policing evolves to meet the needs of officers so that they feel equipped with the tools, skills and knowledge to serve our communities.
“So it’s vital that the views of our members feed into that review.”
The review aims to:
- Conduct a fundamental assessment of the college, its role, effectiveness and how it operates alongside other organisations in the policing landscape
- Ensure that, as the professional body for policing, the college is highly valued by every section of policing, from frontline officers to chief constables and police and crime commissioners.
The review will consider the college’s role in all aspects of policing, from how well it supports professional development, shares good practice and sets standards through to how useful people working on the frontline find its services.
The review will also look at the relationship between the college and other policing organisations and how well equipped the College is to support the police service to deal with future challenges.
Nick Herbert (Lord Herbert of South Downs), who is the new chair of the college board and called the review, said: “This is a critical time in policing with the demands and pressures on the service only increasing during the pandemic.
“I believe the time is right to look at the work that the college does, as well as the place that it occupies in the policing landscape.
“It’s important that we explore how effective the college is in supporting a police service whose mission has been extended and capability stretched over the last 10 years.
“I’m keen that we listen to people from across policing, regardless of their rank, grade or role, to find what they want from their College of Policing and help us identify the areas where we need to improve.”
Anyone with an interest in policing including police officers and staff can feed into the review. The College is contacting a number of policing organisations – including the Police Federation, National Police Chiefs’ Council, and the Police Superintendents’ Association – to ask for their views.
John Apter, the national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: “This root and branch review is a great opportunity to make the College of Policing more meaningful and relevant to rank and file officers, providing them with the training, guidance and support they deserve.
The review must, therefore, be bold and brave to ensure the College is fit for purpose. The Police Federation will play an active part, feeding into the review to ensure that the views of our members are heard and acted upon.”
Anyone with an interest in policing can feed into the review. Have your say by downloading the form below and emailing your views to review@college.pnn.police.uk by 30 April 2021.
College of Policing review – call for evidence (docx) 63.57 KB.
