THE AMOUNT of training officers receive in personal safety varies widely depending on where they serve in the UK, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.<\/p>\n
The disparity has been described as a \u201cpostcode lottery\u201d by the Police Federation of England and Wales. In Essex Police the minimum for officers was six hours.<\/p>\n
Previously, ACPO guidelines \u201cstrongly recommended\u201d that each officer received a minimum of 12 hours of personal safety training a year. However, the College of Policing has said \u201cthere is no longer a set time in hours that forces must offer\u201d.<\/p>\n
Just over one third of UK police forces provided at least 12 hours to each of their officers in the last financial year.<\/p>\n
Only two forces, West Midlands and West Mercia Police, offered more, while some forces provided just three and a half hours.<\/p>\n
Since 2006, when a similar survey of personal safety training hours was carried out, at least 17 forces in England and Wales have reduced the minimum number of hours they provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy question to forces that have reduced their hours is: why?\u201d said Paul Davis, a member of the Police Federation of England and Wales\u2019s Operational Policing sub-committee. \u201cIs it for financial reasons or because there are not enough trainers? Or is it for scientific reasons after a proper assessment?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always said that there is a postcode lottery for officers when it comes to personal safety training. What forces must be doing is carrying out a strategic threat and risk assessment. I would not like to see forces reducing their personal safety training unless they have an objective reason to. If it is done on a financial basis, I would encourage forces to revisit that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regular personal safety training is believed to help reduce the number of officer assaults, which occurred every 27 minutes in the UK last year.<\/p>\n
It can also reduce complaints from members of the public about unnecessary use of force, said Mr Davis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe policing landscape is changing. With an ever-reducing workforce, there are fewer officers on the streets and more are likely to be single crewed. Officers need regular refresher training,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a familiarisation of skills. If you don\u2019t regularly refresh your technique, you can lose it. I think it comes down to having confidence. Officers are less likely to rely on CS spray or their baton if they are confident in the techniques needed to restrain a suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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