Proposals for qualifications in policing
Officers and staff could, for the first time in British policing, get qualifications specific to their rank or role under proposals published by the College of Policing today.
The professional body for policing has begun consulting on proposals to introduce academic recognition for the existing workforce; a practical police degree for future entrants and a higher level apprenticeship which combines on-the-job training while studying towards a high level qualification.
Currently there is no set education level nationally for any policing role or rank.
Many highly skilled officers and staff have carried out research and completed training without receiving any externally recognised qualifications for their work.
The College has examined the level at which police already operate. For example, constables are working to graduate level six which is degree level.
Under PEQF, each rank would be given a minimum qualification level so officers could get recognition for their professional development. For example, it is proposed that a master's level qualification would be required at the superintending ranks.
Current officers and staff do not have to obtain a degree through the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF). The idea is to provide opportunities for those officers and staff who wish to gain a publicly recognised qualification at the relevant education level.
College of Policing CEO, Chief Constable Alex Marshall, said the proposals were a key step toward establishing policing as a profession and come after initial members of the College said they wanted their learning and expertise recognised.
Chief Constable Marshall said: "This is the first time in British policing that a proposal has been put forward allowing officers and staff, if they wish, to be recognised for their existing skills.
"Police are functioning at graduate level now and we are letting officers and staff down by not recognising their value in the wider world of work so this is our chance to address this anomaly.
"When police sit around a table with colleagues in other sectors, such as health or probation, often we are the only participants without transferable qualifications.
"An educational qualification will not replace the empathy, compassion and common sense already in policing, but it will allow police colleagues to get recognised for the complexity of the job they do.
"We will ask established academic providers to accredit prior learning and give serving officers and staff the opportunity to gain a degree or other transferable qualifications."
Entry routes to policing
If existing officers are recognised at this level, in future it would make sense to set that as the entry level for the profession.
The proposal outlines three entry routes including an undergraduate degree in policing; a graduate conversion programme and a higher level apprenticeship.
This would bring consistency to the entry process so new recruits across all forces meet the same high standards.
The proportion of the UK population with a degree has more than doubled in the past twenty years.
Thirty-eight per cent of all candidates coming into policing have a degree or postgraduate qualification.
Chief Constable Marshall added: "Several forces already operate successful schemes where potential applicants to the police undertake a foundation degree. Our proposal for an undergraduate degree in policing would be vocationally oriented, similar to teaching, where students split their time between the classroom and a police force.
"We are in favour of multiple means of entry into policing and we want police to reflect the community they serve.
"We know there have been concerns about academic qualifications putting off potential applicants which is why we are proposing a higher level apprenticeship where new recruits can earn while training and gaining their degree-level qualification.
"There is evidence that the status of professions can be important to people from minority ethnic backgrounds so this may attract higher numbers of people from some under-represented groups.
"As part of implementation, the College would review funding for individuals including schemes for bursaries, scholarships, and loans for those with difficulty in accessing education or from disadvantaged or under-represented groups."
The three proposals are
Proposal 1. Establish a qualifications framework for policing so that individuals can gain recognition that has meaning and credibility
Proposal 2. Opportunities for existing officers and staff to gain accredited and publicly recognised qualifications for their existing skills, if they wish to do so
Proposal 3. Develop three entry routes for new constables
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undergraduate degree in policing
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graduate conversion programme
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higher level apprenticeships
The consultation document, a factsheet and QA are available on the College website.
You can respond to the consultation, which closes on 29 March 2016, through the College's online PEQF survey. (It will take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete)
