Policing requires “pay, training, time and support”, the body which represents rank-and-file bobbies has said in response to Home Office reforms which include introducing a new licence officers will need to do their job.
Police officers in England and Wales will be required to hold and renew a licence to ensure they “stay at the top of their game” as criminal techniques evolve, the Home Office said on Saturday.
The licensing scheme, along with changes which will allow forces to recruit senior leaders from outside policing, are among the latest reforms set to be unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The changes will form part of what the government has said will be the police service’s largest shake-up since it was founded around 200 years ago.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will unveil police reforms on Monday. Credit: PA
Under the plans, police officers will be required to demonstrate they “have the skills needed to fight crime”, with those who repeatedly fall below the required standard, sacked.
The training programme will set “clear standards” in areas including violence against women and girls and neighbourhood policing, and leadership expectations for staff.
Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said: “Every police officer needs to remain match-fit to protect their communities. As crime evolves, we expect police to evolve more quickly.
“The Licence to Practise will equip every officer with the skills and capabilities to do the job – whether new to the force or a policing veteran.”
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However, the plans have drawn criticism from the Police Federation of England and Wales, which said officers are routinely pulled off mandatory trainings and burdened with unsafe workloads.
A spokeswoman for the organisation said: “Everyone wants professional policing, but that requires pay, training, time and support.
“Officers are routinely pulled off mandatory training to plug gaps, work rest days to stay afloat, and carry workloads no-one would call safe.
“We will await the detail of the white paper but these issues need to be fixed.”
Also among the new measures are plans for a graduate recruitment drive, with £7 million promised to attract students into graduate neighbourhood police officer roles.
In a bid to boost wellbeing, trauma tacker software and a mental health crisis line will be rolled out for officers and staff, while those in front-facing and high-risk roles will be offered yearly psychological risk screenings.
Mahmood is expected to outline the sweeping reforms in the white paper, “From local To National: A New Model For policing”, on Monday.
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