Next, a look at some of the major challenges police forces in Wales (and the UK more generally) continue to face or have had to adapt to more recently.
The police have traditionally been one of the few major public employers who would accept candidates without any formal qualifications – and that’s still the case for PCSOs.
That’s since changed for police constables and you now need at least the equivalent of an A-Level unless you have prior policing experience (like a special constable or PCSO) or military experience (at least two years in the armed forces) to start training.
Direct-entry and fast track schemes have been introduced – to enable suitably qualified candidates and graduates to apply directly to become a detective or senior rank officer – when candidates for higher ranks would usually need several years experience as a constable beforehand.
The schemes were introduced to break down what has been described as a closed-off workforce where police officers have had “minimal exposure to other working cultures”. This has resulted in policing not being seen as a serious vocation in the same way as medicine, law and finance8.
The move has been controversial. Quite understandably, the idea that people without any prior policing experience could jump their way to the front of the queue to become a detective, inspector or superintendent was viewed as patronising towards constables who have to work their way up.
Also, an evaluation published in 20209 found that the numbers completing their fast track course were relatively low (175 as of 2019). Although the calibre of the applicants was high and a sizable proportion were women there remained problems in recruitment of people of colour.
A research paper published in 201910 found a belief amongst serving police officers that direct-entry commanders would lack credibility with the rank-and-file. It was felt that fast-tracked commanders couldn’t understand issues facing frontline officers as they will have never experienced it themselves. However, those interviewed also said the (then) current standard of leadership by experienced commanders was poor anyway as they had “forgotten how to be police officers”.
8.- UK Home Office, Consultation on the Implementation of Direct Entry in the Police (p5) Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175510/consultation-document.pdf
9.- Isla Campbell, Sarah Colover, College of Policing, (July 2020). Fast Track and Direct Entry evaluation. Available at: https://whatworks.college.police.uk/Research/Documents/FTDE-Evaluation-Overview.pdf
10. – Hoggett J et. al. (2019). Challenges for Police Leadership: Identity, Experience, Legitimacy and Direct Entry. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11896-018-9264-2
