Police ‘need professional body to ensure quality of service’

Chief constables would pay £250 and constables £50 in annual subscriptions to become members of a professional institute designed to be the “public’s professional guardian of the quality of policing”.

Britain’s most powerful police body, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which is run as a private company, would be wound up and merged into the new organisation.

ACPO’s interests would be represented by a “council of chief constables”, which would work alongside officers of more junior rank but would remain at the “head and heart” of the institute.

The proposals have been put forward by the former head of the National Policing Improvement Agency, Peter Neyroud, who was asked by the Government to suggest how leadership and training within the service could be improved.

Mr Neyroud, a former Thames Valley chief constable, said police needed to “move from being a service that acts professionally to becoming a professional service”.

“A single such body,” he added, “will be able to simplify the burgeoning national standards for policing, picking the really important ones and jettisoning what has become a welter of unnecessary and bureaucratic guidance.”

In a scheme similar to those in the medical and teaching professions, all new officers would have to gain a “police initial qualification”, possibly involving service with the special constabulary, before they could become sworn officers and members of the institute.

Mr Neyroud said he wanted the qualification to be attainable by applicants from all backgrounds, emphasising that the new system was not intended to produce “essay writing cops”.

“Officers will be better qualified on entry and, whilst qualifying, many will provide visible patrol as special constables, reinforcing the public ethos,” he added.

Policing Minister Nick Herbert yesterday announced the report would be put out to consultation before decisions on which recommendations should be adopted.

It is the third report in recent weeks to propose police reform, following Lord Hutton’s recommendations on public sector pensions and a review of pay and conditions by Tom Winsor.

Mr Herbert said: “In challenging times we need strong and focused leadership at every level in the police to ensure all the service makes the best use of all its resources.

“We also need high quality training to ensure the service has the skills needed to fight crime.

“The Government is clear that the service should have the lead role in this, in line with our wider approach to public services and policing.”

Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: “If implemented, this report stands to have a huge impact on police officers and the structure of policing in England and Wales, so it must not be viewed in isolation.

“Within the space of a few weeks police officers have been confronted with the Winsor Review of pay and conditions, Hutton’s report on pensions and now this.

“If ever there was an urgent need for considered and structured reform through an open and public Royal Commission on Policing, it is now.”

The president of the Police Superintendents’ Association, Derek Barnett, said it supported the idea of a new institute but warned it would fail “if it is seen simply as a re-branding of ACPO”.

ACPO president Sir Hugh Orde said: “This review offers an opportunity to better recognise our officers and staff for the incredible range of skills they have.

“We note the review places ACPO as the ‘head and heart’ of a professional body. As leaders of the service we recognise such a body must be open to all who deliver policing and its inspiration shared across all ranks and grades.

“The consultation which now follows is an important opportunity for all, including ACPO, to contribute.”