Direct Entry: “Huge risk of no policing experience”

THE chairman of Essex Police Federation has said he “totally disagrees” with direct entry into the service’s senior ranks – as new entrants will have no operational experience.

Mark Smith (pictured) said that the move jeopardised the Office of Constable and feared that new entrants to the service would have no grounding in front line policing. He said accelerated promotion would be a better idea.

Mr Smith said: “It is about the Office of Constable. From PC to chief constable we are all constables. We have been through the ranks to gain experience. There is a risk there will be no grounding in the senior ranks of policing.”

The Government announced on 14 October that that 20 people from outside the police will be able to join it at the rank of superintendent each year, and a further 80 at inspector level.

The Home Office has also stated that Police and Crime Commissioners will be able to appoint overseas officers as chief constables.

Mr Smith said: “They will be managing firearms incidents and serious public order incidents – and they will have no grounding as a police officer to do this.”

Steve White, vice chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “External candidates should not be able to join the service at any rank above that of constable; the current structure properly equips officers for the next stage in their career.”

However chief officers, disagreed with the federation’s view.

ACPO National Policing Lead for Workforce Management, Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, said: “As a profession, policing has nothing to fear from being open to these ideas.”

He added: “Every person in society shares an interest in seeing the best possible leaders in policing. So it is right to review how we attract the brightest and best, including how we can bring more women and minority ethnic leaders into senior roles.

“Forces already have police staff in senior leadership positions in fields such as HR, finance and IT. These proposals will see the College of Policing develop standards for fast-tracking promising entrants to operational policing at Constable level, for bringing in outstanding candidates from outside policing at Superintendent level, and for recruiting Chief Constable candidates from abroad.