Federation Chair on police degrees: We are trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist

7 July 2021

“I fear that we are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist - and we risk altering the demographic of our officers to the detriment of the service and the public.”

Kent Police Federation Chair Neil Mennie has added his view to the debate on whether all police officers should require a degree to do the job.

Neil said: “The Police Service has traditionally been made up of people from an assorted range of backgrounds and ages. It makes sense to have a true reflection of society and the diversity of ideas and skills that policing needs.

“I have over the years actually asked a number of colleagues with degrees if it was of help to them after joining the service. The response along with a wry smile was always ‘no not at all’ this is due to the sense that practical policing is actually closer to a trade or craft than a demonstration of academic ability.

“Some of them I may add are still very skilled career constables and some have climbed the ranks having had the choice to choose that path. It could be argued that a degree in ‘policing’ may be a help but the unique nature of the job sets it apart from other roles in society.”

The College of Policing wants all recruits to gain a degree before joining the force – or to gain one on the job.

Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones – soon to be the new PCC head – has urged Home Secretary Priti Patel to scrap plans for graduate-only police recruits and says ex-soldiers will be better than university leavers with 'expressive dance' degrees.

His comments come after Nick Adderley, Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Constabulary, criticised the all-graduate recruit plans.

CC Adderley said police recruits joining after university are not prepared to work nights or weekends and are 'sadly lacking' in life experience.

Neil added: “It makes sense that some roles require a related degree and I would rather hope my doctor has a degree in medicine rather than geography.

“It’s fine to encourage those with degrees to apply but as part of a healthy mix and opportunity for all. ‘If you have a dripping tap call a plumber’ as one of my engineering family members would often say and with good cause.

“If the heating goes wrong we ring a very skilled and experienced heating engineer who is used to dealing with the public entering people’s homes and often problem solving in what can be a messy and annoying crisis. All excellent traits that if they could afford the drop in money would be some of the desirable traits of a police officer.

“I fear that we are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist - and we risk altering the demographic of our officers to the detriment of the service and the public.”

Bernie O’Reilly, interim CEO of the College of Policing, said: 'Policing has changed significantly in recent years and the new training has been created to reflect the challenges officers face and recognise the complex nature of the job.

'The public deserves highly trained, highly skilled officers that can protect them from all crime types, from domestic violence and digital fraud, through to organised crime and modern slavery, as well as protecting vulnerable people.”

The College of Policing added that the new training scheme had already been adopted by 33 forces.