Asked by: Lord Dear (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the quality of leadership in the police service, especially at senior ranks.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government has been clear that strong leadership at all ranks is essential to ensure a positive culture and rigorous standards in policing. Failures of integrity within policing impact on public confidence and recent revelations rightly raise questions about the quality and standards of leadership in the police. We will continue pushing for improvements in standards, expectations, and outcomes for policing, but the drive must also come from within forces.
We have invested £3.35m from 2021 to 2023 for the College of Policing to create a National Leadership Centre. As part of this, the College is now in the process of setting and rolling out national leadership standards at key levels in the police service and providing leadership development programmes aligned to these standards.
We also welcome the College’s proposals for fundamental change to the current system of chief officer selection and development, following a full independent review. These measures are currently being implemented and will increase transparency and open up access to senior level development.
Asked by: Lord Dear (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 22 December 2022 (HL4321), why the leadership training of senior police officers is delivered by the College of Policing and no longer at the Police Staff College.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The College of Policing was established in 2012 as the professional body for policing, to set and improve standards for excellence, including recruitment, leadership, professional development and assessment. The College succeeded the organisations that had previously had responsibility for these functions, including the National Policing Improvement Agency, which had previously incorporated the Police Staff College.
The College has prioritised improvements to leadership training as part of its National Centre for Police Leadership. This includes setting standards for all levels of leadership and providing a host of guidance, resources and training to support development for everyone in policing. The College also supports the progression of officers for senior leadership roles through providing ongoing development and access to executive coaching and mentoring.
Asked by: Lord Dear (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 2 November (HL Deb, col 232) concerning policing and the possible reestablishment of Staff College, when they will respond to that question.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The College of Policing was set up in 2012 to set and improve standards for excellence in policing, including recruitment, leadership, professional development and assessment.
The College’s role is clear: setting high professional standards sharing what works best; acting as the national voice of policing; and ensuring professional development and police leadership are of the highest quality and that they uphold the highest ethics.
There are no plans to re-establish the old Police Staff College.