Specials will be allowed to join the Fed, Home Office confirms

The commitment by the Home Office follows the call for the law to be changed by Federation Chairman John Apter in his interview with Police Oracle. Under current legislation, the 11,690 Special Constables in England and Wales are not allowed to be members. Instead, the Home Office provides free access… Special Constables will be allowed to join the Police Federation as part of recognition of their contingency work during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Home Office has confirmed....

Treasury says returning officers will not have pensions docked

The Treasury has written to the Policing Minister Kit Malthouse confirming that officers who have come out of retirement to re-join their forces to help cope with the COVID-19 pandemic will not be financially penalised. John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, confirmed that the changes will scrap rules that normally… Tax charge scrapped for pension income for recently retired officers aged between 50 and 55 for limited period ...

Two forces appoint new ACCs

Suffolk Constabulary revealed it has poached Rob Jones from the Metropolitan Police and Warwickshire Police announced Alex Franklin-Smith has been confirmed in post after working as Temporary Assistant Chief Constable. Both will lead on local policing. The two promotions are of people who have experience outside of the constabularies and… Suffolk and Warwickshire have announced new Assistant Chief Constables....

PEQF: myths and mixed messages

The College of Policing is imposing the PEQF requirement on all forces, which means new recruits must already hold a degree or be willing to study for one on joining. This has created new entry routes that combine degree study and operational training through apprenticeship schemes. Policing lecturers from Staffordshire,… A webinar on officer degrees, hosted by the consultancy company Bluelight, discussed with policing academics from across the country the merits and myths of the Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF). ...

Dyfed-Powys appoints third female officer to command team

T/ACC Auckland joined Gwent Police as Chief Superintendent in 2015 and was appointed as the force’s Temporary Assistant Chief Constable in January 2017. She started her policing career with Gloucestershire Constabulary in 1994 and worked predominantly in uniform roles for the next ten years, commanding BCUs and leading the force… Dyfed-Powys Police has appointed Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Emma Auckland as their new Assistant Chief Constable....

Met welcomes 320 new recruits despite Hendon training pause

All were due to start at Hendon on Monday 30 March, but have now instead begun their seven-week courses from home, supported remotely by sergeants. Hendon has however remained open for training that cannot be completed remotely. The force said that each trainee received a phone call from a senior… The Metropolitan Police virtually welcomed 320 new trainees at the end of March who are now undertaking their learning remotely....

Staffordshire opens graduate detective recruitment scheme

Applications opened today (Monday 20 April) for a new entry route which allows those with a degree to complete a two-year graduate programme that develops investigative skills into serious and complex crimes. This will involve a mix of classroom and theoretical and practical skills training and includes four months in… Staffordshire Police is set to recruit 30 new detectives with a graduate entry scheme ...

First group of retired Met officers start work two weeks after call up

The first 10 officers called back from retirement to help the Met cope with the COVID-19 pandemic have started work two weeks after the force made its appeal. A second intake of 17 officers will begin their training today (Tuesday). The Commissioner, Cressida Dick, wrote to PCs and Sergeants who… PC Stuart Hepburn puts on a uniform again three years after leaving the force ...

Probationer training: remote control

Nottinghamshire has been in the middle of a record recruitment drive which will be given further impetus by its share of the 20,000 uplift. Some 72 new officers completed their training recently making the total for the year 107 recruits. There are now plans to bring in an additional 150… What elements of training could now be completed remotely using technology? Nottinghamshire Police has embarked on an innovative approach which may shape how it will be delivered in the future...

West Midlands DCC appointed new Met Assistant Commissioner

AC Rolfe will take the place of AC Mark Simmons who gave extended notice of his intention to retire earlier this year.  The Commissioner said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Louisa Rolfe who will join us in the role of Assistant Commissioner, assuming responsibility for Met Operations.… Metropolitan Commissioner Cressida Dick has appointed Louisa Rolfe, the current Deputy Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, as the new Met Assistant Commissioner....