College of Policing review: have your say
24 March 2021
Officers are being encouraged to have their say in a root and branch review of the work of the College of Policing.
The college was established almost 10 years ago but its new chair, Nick Herbert (Lord Herbert of South Downs), wants to ensure it meets its potential and that its role is valued across the police service.
Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, is urging members to take part in the review.
“Federation members are ideally placed to give their views on the College of Policing. They can highlight what areas of the college’s work they value but also point out where they feel improvements can be made,” says Jon.
“I appreciate everyone is busy right now and that officers are feeling the strain due to the pandemic but this review is an incredibly important piece of work and hope officers can find a little bit of time to share their feelings about the college so that they can help shape its future development.
“It is critically important for the college, which is the professional body for everyone in policing, is fit for purpose. It is involved in training and professional development, sets standards and also ensures that best practice is shared.”
The college says the review will:
• 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.
It will consider the college’s role in all aspects of policing and assess 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 it is to support the police service to deal with future challenges.
Lord Herbert explains: “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. I’m committed to ensuring that the college stands proudly in the policing landscape to support the service in its mission to protect the public and keep people safe.”
Policing minister Kit Malthouse has also supported the review.
He says: “As plans to recruit 20,000 more police officers continue at pace, I welcome this review, which will enhance support to our hardworking officers and help the college recognise its full potential as the professional body for policing.”
The college is contacting a number of policing organisations – including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Police Superintendents’ Association and the Police Federation – to ask for their views. A survey will also seek views from officers and staff working on the frontline while a call for evidence, which will be open until 30 April, has also been issued.
The college will use the feedback it receives to inform a series of recommendations which will be outlined in a report later this summer.
Have your say by downloading the form below and emailing your views to review@college.pnn.police.uk by 30 April 2021.
