When Saturday doesn't come ...

PC Elliott is the designated Football Officer for second-tier Preston North End, a role he has been a big part of his life since 2006. His work has been singled out for best practice by security experts, the football industry, police leaders and communications professionals. So what happens for the… What does the country’s favourite football cop do when there are no matches to police? PC Paul Elliott’s fan-friendly Twitter feed has made him a favourite among football supporters. He tells Police Oracle about his love of the game and how his job suddenly changed....

Interview: South Wales Chief Constable Matt Jukes

CC Jukes said that despite small adjustments the force is delivering the same service to the public as before.  As of yesterday (27 March) 13 per cent of the officer workforce were off through self-isolation or sickness. Normal levels are around four and a half to five per cent.  But… The Chief Constable of South Wales Police talks to Police Oracle about managing sickness levels, distributing PPE and getting new recruits through their training ...

Met calls on retired PCs and sergeants to rejoin the force

The Commissioner Cressida Dick is writing to every former Met office who retired as PCs or Sergeants within the last five years to ask them to re-join in either a paid or a voluntary capacity on a part or fulltime basis. Those approaching the end of their 30 years’ pensionable… Home Office says changes to tax and pension arrangements will be made in order to recompense officers who come back to the job ...

College of Policing postpones all face-to-face training

The College of Policing has postponed all face-to-face training until June but it says it is looking at different ways of delivering some class room or centre-based activities. But assessment centres for new recruits will stay open so forces can continue with the officer uplift programme. The college said in… College of Policing suspends all face-to-face training while assessment centres stay open to ensure uplift goes ahead. ...

NPCC urges business to free up staff who are Specials

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the National Police Chiefs’ Council warned forces are under “increasing strain” and appealed to employers to allow employees who volunteer as Special Constables to be given paid leave to help bolster police numbers. Being able to call on more than 10,000 Special Constables in the… Police forces have appealed to employers to consider giving paid leave to staff who are Special Constables....

Probationer training prioritised as recruits move to front line earlier

Forces are prioritising probationer training in order to fast track new recruits through the system and provide support for front line resources. In Ireland more than 300 new Garda officers will move to the front line at an earlier point in their training than they would have anticipated due to… Officers fast tracked through the system as criminal records checks sped up to allow volunteers to start ...

Interview: Michael Fuller, Britain's first and only black Chief Constable

Home Office data recently revealed that the number of black officers had increased just 0.2 per cent over the past decade, with other previously underrepresented groups – such as women – steadily increasing at a faster rate. Michael Fuller, 61, was the Chief Constable of Kent Police from to 2004… Michael Fuller tells Police Oracle about his experience moving up the ranks in the face of discrimination on both sides of policing. ...

Paying specials among civil contingency response options

Paying Specials or their employers to provide more shift cover and bringing back retired officers to provide back-up are among the options being considered if officer strength is affected by the spread of COVID-19. The lead for Civil Contingencies at the National Police Chiefs' Council, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton,… Home Affairs Committee told that lack of officer testing could also be affecting front line numbers ...

Retired officers face call-up as part of contingency plans

As the massive contingency plan was pulled together to enable forces and the public to cope, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner said former officers could be brought back to boost the ranks. Dame Cressida Dick said she had not ruled out any option as part of contingency plans including the use… Retired police officers could be brought back on duty as part of COVID-19 contingency plans....

'Gutted' officers react after Sergeant exams cancelled by CoP

The College of Policing made the announcement on social media and on its website last night following the change in government advice. The exams had been due to take place today in London leaving some candidates stranded and out of pocket for hotel and travel costs. Mike Cunningham, Chief Executive… Police due to take their sergeant exams have shared their disappointment after they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak....