‘Policing degrees’ taking recruits off the frontlines, say PCCs

4 November 2022

Simon Riley is backing calls from 16 Police and Crime Commissioners including Nottinghamshire’s Caroline Henry for a relaxation of the requirement for new recruits to study for a degree level qualification.

The Nottinghamshire Police Federation chair said: “We have always said that you don’t need a degree to be a good police officer. It is much more about mastering the basics through police training and on the job experience – and, of course, good instincts, common sense and a passion for public service.

“The concern is that new recruits are spending too much time in the classroom rather than on the streets where they are desperately needed.

“We need a more flexible approach. By all means let’s formally recognise the professional skills police officers have. But we should not be requiring them to spend a big chunk of their on-duty time and their personal time studying, adding to the stress that recruits are already under from doing a pressured job in policing.”

The letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman warns her that up to 10 per cent of officers are ‘stuck in classrooms’ rather than fighting crime on the frontlines.

The PCCs are urging her to allow forces to revert to the “traditional” training method, where officers can hit the beat after 20 weeks’ training. They also say the requirement to study may be off-putting for less academically able recruits or older people who switching careers, such as moving from the military to policing.

Matthew Scott, PCC for Kent, who organised the letter, told The Telegraph newspaper: “We are turning away perfectly good people because we have decided you need a degree to be a police officer. There are many fine police officers who have never had a degree.”

Kit Malthouse signed off on the new regulations during his time as policing minister. They take effect from March next year and will make it mandatory that any officer completing their three-year probation will have gained a graduate-level qualification.

The training programme is intended to prepare officers to cope with growing challenges, from cyber threats and fraud to investigating rape and domestic abuse - and the programme will be standard across all 43 police English and Welsh forces.

Former Chief Constable Andy Marsh, who now leads the College of Policing, said: “Like so many areas of life, crime and the demands policing faces have changed radically, and the training we provide officers needs to reflect this.”