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Degrees and apprenticeships scheduled to become the primary route from the end of next year.

Chief Constable Mike Cunningham is the College of Policing CEO

 

The College of Policing says it will "offer support" to forces who want to keep the current system for training police officers when its degree entry programme comes into place.

From the end of 2019, when the police education qualification framework is applied across policing, the organisation plans for the initial police learning development programme (IPLDP) to end.

But after “a small number of forces” expressed concerns that this could be unworkable, the College says it will “explore their options”.

Under its plans, all new recruits to the police will be required to have a degree or start as apprentices working towards one.

Last month the NPCC said on Twitter that chiefs are supportive of the new entry routes into policing.

But Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones responded: “There are a number of chiefs (and PCCs) who are clearly NOT happy with the way this is being done to policing.

“There are a huge amount of unknowns that may deliver chaos through this push for change to solve a non-issue. Workforce reform not reliant on this one bit.”

Leicestershire PCC Lord Willy Bach said he agreed with his counterpart.

This week, the College has confirmed it has had approaches about possible extensions to the old system and says it will see what can be done.

Chief Constable Mike Cunningham said in a statement that the IPLDP accreditation will expire because it no longer meets the requirements of modern day policing.

He added: “A small number of forces have approached the College seeking a possible extension to the IPLDP deadline. We are working with them to understand the difficulties they face, offer support and explore their options.

“We are already supporting adoption of the new curriculum in some forces this year. Throughout the process, we will continue to engage with the service to discuss options, understand their impact and refine approaches to ensure we get the best possible outcomes, for policing and the public.”

He says the IPLDP, designed in 2006, needs to be updated in areas including response, community, roads policing, investigation, intelligence and criminal justice.

The new routes into policing will be phased in, with apprenticeships beginning at four east Midlands forces in September.

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