Wellbeing takes priority for officers frazzled by COVID-19 response

A year of dealing with the impact of COVID-19 has left frazzled response officers and staff needing support with wellbeing. Forces across the country are stepping up initiatives including online resources to encourage officers to deal with issues like fatigue and find new ways to keep resilient. The National Police… Sleep advice, podcasts and even therapy dogs are being used in an NPCC campaign to highlight the wellbeing of response officers....

College urges frontline staff to consider research projects

The College of Policing has launched its sixth annual bursary scheme to enable officers considering further studies to access financial help. The launch coincided with International Women’s Day which included concerns being raised about the hurdles female officers have to overcome in order to achieve promotion. The scheme, which since… Officers struggling to balance finance commitments and promotion have been urged to apply for a bursary....

Merseyside PCC announces preferred candidate for next chief

DCC Kennedy will replace the current Chief Constable, Andy Cooke QPM, when he leaves the role next month to join Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. DCC Kennedy, who joined from Cheshire Constabulary to Merseyside Police in 2017 as Assistant Chief Constable, will now go before… Merseyside’s PCC Jane Kennedy has today (8 March) announced the current Deputy Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, is her preferred choice to be the next Chief Constable of Merseyside Police....

Leadership roles in focus for International Women's Day

A day of events promoting women in leadership roles and encouraging women to join up will be held by forces as part of the UN’s International Women’s Day. People taking part represent all ranks and specialist roles in the service. Director General of the National Crime Agency, Dame Lynne Owens, is… Forces across the country will be encouraging more women to take up senior roles as part of International Women’s Day....

New DCC for South Wales makes move from Northumbria

ACC Rachel Bacon’s appointment was confirmed this week and she will be taking up the post in the coming months. South Wales will be the fourth force she has served with. Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said: “As an experienced Assistant Chief Constable in Northumbria Police, who also leads nationally for… A Northumbria ACC is moving to South Wales to become the force’s new Deputy Chief Constable....

Entry requirements barrier to migrant recruitment, says Lincolnshire

Those wishing to join the police must hold a level 3 qualification (or higher) which is equivalent to two A Levels or possess a policing qualification. Lincolnshire Police, like many other forces, is pushing to take advantage of the uplift to diversify its workforce.  “The difficulty we have with that… Lincolnshire’s Uplift Project Manager, Detective Inspector Lee St Quinton, said policing entry requirements were a “key barrier” to recruiting from migrant communities....

Future leaders need new skills and be 'less risk-averse'

'Safe appointees' leading forces they have spent years with will be ill-equipped to meet future policing needs, according to policing experts. Delegates who joined the online Police Foundation annual conference heard from senior policing figures that the current recruitment and training for leaders won’t be enough to run the service… Chief constables will need a wider skillset to meet future challenges, senior leaders have warned....

Action needed to end 104% rise in resignations, experts warn

The Police Foundation’s annual conference was told there has been a 104% increase in officers quitting the service since 2015. Leavers told a study by the University of Portsmouth that their reasons included a lack leadership, not feeling valued, lack of career direction and lack of autonomy. Dr Sarah Charman,… Better leadership and support is needed to stem the tide of officers quitting, chiefs have been told....

Learning for assessments not skills is over, chiefs told

Face to face formal learning aimed at passing assessments is rapidly becoming obsolete due to COVID-19 and new approaches to CPD, the Police Foundation’s annual conference was told. The conference heard a rapid increase in training and development will be needed by forces because 40% of people in the service… Training to pass tests rather than develop skills is holding forces back, experts have warned....

Use VR to prepare recruits for trauma of police work says chief

Lancashire CC Andy Rhodes was part of a panel discussion on promoting wellbeing as part of the Police Foundation's annual conference The Future Police Workforce. He says he can see in new recruits that they’re far more self-aware, more reflective and have less stigma about mental health simply because of the… Days of taking new recruits to a post-mortem are thankfully over says wellbeing lead who suggests greater use of virtual reality to train new officers in coping with trauma ...