Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority with an overview of the future plans for police officer recruitment and current developments in the initial training for new police officers.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority - 27 June 2024
Date : 27 June 2024
Location : Caledonian Suite, COSLA, Verity House, 19 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh, EH12 5BH
Revised Approach to Initial Training
A revised training model has been launched where officers begin and complete their initial probationer training locally. Benefiting from staying at home, having the support and familiarity of family/friends, familiarising themselves with the local Policing Areas and building relationships with local officers. Our flexible delivery model will see residential courses running concurrently with non-residential courses.
Probationer training has been refreshed and modernised to ensure it equips our newest recruits for the complex role they will face in local policing environments. Updated and new content on the initial training course includes history and ethics of Policing, Policing Diverse Communities, additional support where English is not a first language, communication skills and recognising how attitudes, behaviours and emotions influence interactions with themselves, the public and colleagues.
This history of policing includes the Peel Principles and legitimacy, and the evolution of policing. Sir Geoff Palmer contributed a recorded interview which will be incorporated, educating officers on race, colonisation and Scotland’s role in slavery. Cases of historic importance are discussed, including Stephen Lawrence which opens discussions on institutional discrimination/racism. It also explores the definition of institutional discrimination/ institutional racism as well as the murder of Sarah Everard, which leads into a focus on ethics. Custom and practice are introduced and the need to challenge stressed.
Policing Together provide an input to probationers with up-to-date information on the demographics of Scotland, and specifically in terms of the communities we serve, broken down by geography and policing division. Community tensions and cultural sensitivities are discussed, and good practice is shared.
The Probationer Governance Unit was established in October 2023 to provide any additional support required in the transition from the training to operational environment.
A full training needs analysis (TNA) of the probationer training programme will explore the effectiveness of the changes, additional content and enhancements implemented and any further changes that are required.
