Chair welcomes College of Policing review findings

15 February 2022

Suffolk Police Federation has welcomed a report from the College of Policing which identifies three key areas of improvement in its bid to boost leadership, standards and professionalism across the service.

The strategic targets are outlined in a report which warns marginal improvements to policing are no longer enough to keep up with the pace of change and help cut crime, raise confidence and keep the public safe.

The Police Federation was involved in an in-depth review of the college, its role, its effectiveness and how it operates alongside other organisations in the policing landscape and has welcomed the outcome.

Suffolk branch chair Darren Harris said: “Nationally, the Federation specifically set out our views on a number of points on behalf of our members and are pleased that they were addressed in the review.

“At the end of the day we all want the same thing: a modern, efficient and effective police service which has the trust and confidence of the people it protects and serves.

“This review identifies areas where it can improve leadership, standards and professionalism and that will help us cut crime, boost confidence and keep the public safe.”

The report calls for boosting professionalism by equipping officers and staff with the best possible professional skills needed to do their job by ensuring that they have access to the best in CPD and that this is properly prioritised.

It said: “This does not seek to suggest that officers and staff are unprofessional, rather that policing has not collectively prioritised their development as professionals.

“Achieving this will further empower officers and staff to use excellent professional judgement across their work to protect the public, and to address concerns about some elements of policing culture.”

The second key aim is improving leadership by developing the leadership skills of police officers and staff at all levels.

“All those working in policing are leaders, whether probationers on the front line or those running big teams or whole forces,” said the report.

“The service needs to develop a culture of inclusive, data-driven and effective leadership. This will drive performance and ensure that talent is recognised at whatever level it exists.”

The third College of Policing aim is driving consistency by working to overcome the weaknesses of the 43-force model to bring a standard approach to where it matters most for the public and the policing workforce.

The report acknowledged: “There is too much unhelpful variation across forces, which frustrates the delivery of excellence in the basics and impedes the sharing of good practice and innovation.

“By driving greater consistency in key areas, the right things will be prioritised and the public will know what they can expect from their police service, as officers and staff focus on the activity that we know works to cut crime and keep them safe.”

College of Policing chair Lord Herbert said: “Police officers and staff do an incredible job in difficult circumstances and deserve to have a strong professional body alongside them, support them with better training, professional development and the evidence of what works to cut crime.

“The police service faces myriad challenges, from its relationship with black communities and how it protects women, to the need to respond to ever-changing crime threats. The culture within policing is under the microscope, with questions being asked about leadership and professionalism. 

“The college must take a lead role in helping policing meet these challenges, but it cannot achieve the necessary cultural change on its own. The review shows there is appetite from the rest of the service to work with the College to help policing meet the high standards the public rightly expect.”