Skills for Justice asks first responders to take part in virus response survey

Skills for Justice is launching a national workforce survey of police and other public sector workers to help understand the critical skills required to rebuild a sustainable, productive, and flexible public sector workforce following the pandemic. Part of the survey will involve collecting good practice examples of responses to the… Research designed to collect good practice examples of response to COVID-19 after public sector forced to adapt to pandemic ‘at pace’ ...

Sussex promotes Deputy Chief Constable to new Chief

She has been Deputy Chief Constable with the force for 18 months and previously was Assistant Chief Constable for Kent Police. The recruitment process was triggered by CC York’s decision to retire, which he announced in March. At Sussex she has led the development of Tactical Enforcement Units, rural crime teams… Sussex has promoted its Deputy Chief Constable to lead the force. Jo Shiner is the preferred candidate to take over from Giles York as Chief Constable....

Virtual mindfulness sessions for Cheshire officers and staff

The start of the sessions coincided with Mental Health Awareness Week on 18 May 2020, and are running on Monday evenings from 18.30 – 19.30 over a 10 week period. Money for the sessions is coming from the Safer Communities Fund which takes cash from criminals under the Proceeds of… Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane has commissioned virtual mindfulness sessions for all Cheshire officers and staff....

College extends online promotion exams to end of year

Candidates for the written sergeants’ and Inspectors’ exams will use the online portals rushed through due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The College of Policing had already hinted that the current arrangements would carry over into the autumn. Dates for the assessments have yet to be announced but is likely to… The next round of promotion exams will be online, the College of Policing has confirmed....

British Transport Police starts search for new Chief Constable

CC Crowther's current term in the job is set to end in February next year, which will mark the end of seven years in the role and 40 years with BTP.  BTPA say they are now looking for someone who “can provide effective leadership to a large, dispersed workforce of… British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) and the Department for Transport (DfT) today launched their search for a new Chief Constable to replace Paul Crowther....

Citizen’s Award sergeant says he ‘could have gone down different path’

An Essex sergeant who has received a British Citizen’s Award for his work with young people has spoken about how his life could have been very different when as a young man he was excluded from school. Sergeant Ben Forbes, grew up in the London Borough of Newham, and was… Officer who served with the Met and now Essex, presented with award for work diverting gang members ...

Interview: ACC Vicki Evans

Vicki Evans was previously Temporary ACC at Dyfed-Powys. She is replacing Sharn Basra, who has returned to Bedfordshire Police. In January 2018, ACC Evans transferred to Dyfed-Powys Police as Chief Superintendent of Territorial Policing, before being promoted to Temporary ACC in November 2018 with responsibility for operational policing. She led… Police Oracle talks to Cambridgeshire Constabulary's newly appointed Assistant Chief Constable, Vicki Evans about diversity, direct entry and opportunities for women in senior policing roles....

Police Scotland appoints two new ACCs from outside force

Police Scotland has appointed two new assistant chief constables choosing candidates from forces outside Scotland for the posts. The appointments were made by the Scottish Police Authority to fill an existing vacancy and as part of its succession planning for the year ahead. Judi Heaton has been a Chief Superintendent… Humberside chief superintendent and PSNI temporary ACC selected as part of succession plan ...

Recruitment training: what it is like doing the fitness test virtually?

Nottinghamshire Police’s Operation Uplift team have been working to ensure their recruitment drive continues to be ahead of schedule despite the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes allowing applicants to complete the fitness test remotely.   The force has issued guidance to trainees on how to complete the bleep test on their… Participants in Nottinghamshire Police's adapted virtual recruitment programme share their experience of taking their fitness tests remotely....

Comment: what is the problem with direct entry?

We are painfully short of detectives on a national level. A survey conducted in Suffolk Police found that an effective drop in salary coupled with increased specialism requirements, training and studying, responsibility and severity of cases is just not an attractive combination when a uniformed cop considers becoming a detective.… You don’t have to have rolled around on the floor with strangers to be a good detective argues Dr Susanne Knabe-Nicol...