Cambridgeshire Police Federation chair Liz Groom has welcomed a fundamental review of the College of Policing.
The review aimed to set out a new vision to improve leadership, standards and professionalism in the service to help cut crime, boost confidence and keep the public safe.
It was carried out last year and has now been published.
The Federation contributed to the review, setting out its views on behalf of members on:
- What the college does particularly well, and where it could improve
- What issues and areas should be prioritised for activity and what should be deprioritised?
- Whether the college is occupying the right part of the policing landscape, or do relationships across policing need amending and, if so, how?
- How the work of the college, across the areas set out, can be better understood and valued by all in policing?
Liz said she will be “watching with interest” to see how the college addresses the challenges the review has highlighted.
She said: “On behalf of our members, the Federation fed into the review giving our views on a range of areas.
“It’s in the interests of everyone in policing for a strong college to play a key role in the development of officers and the service.
“We’ll be watching with interest to see how the college moves forward and takes on the challenges it faces.”
Those challenges include:
- The lack of professional development
- Insufficient investment in the development of leadership at all ranks
- An absence of coordinated strategic thinking across policing
- A blurring of responsibilities at a national level
- Being insufficiently equipped to respond to the increasing digital aspects of crime
The review has set out three key priorities:
- Boosting professionalism – ensuring officers and staff have access to the best in CPD and that it is properly prioritised
- Improving leadership – ensuring officers and staff at all levels have their leadership skills developed
- Driving consistency – overcoming the weaknesses of the 43-force model to bring consistency where it matters most for the public and those working in policing.
Lord Herbert, College of Policing chair, 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.”