Concern Over Plans For Police ‘Licence To Practise’

Individual officers do not need reform – it’s the force structure which is at fault, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.

Chair Steve Kent was speaking as the Government announced plans that would require officers to hold and renew a ‘licence to practise’ throughout their career.

The licence would create a single standardised framework for officer training, supervision and development across all police forces in England and Wales.

Officers who repeatedly fail to demonstrate they “have the skills needed to fight crime” would lose their jobs, the Home Office said.

But Steve warned that the new rules announced in the policing white paper would enable senior ranks to get rid of police officers outside the normal processes, and that the move could be costly for officers.

Steve said: “I am concerned about this proposal. It suggests that individual officers are what need to be reformed, as opposed to where the reform needs to be, which is at a national level.

“This would provide several bites of the cherry to remove officers outside the normal route of performance Regulations, and discipline and conduct Regulations.

“I am also concerned about the fact that people may have to pay for licences. I think the Office of Constable is what needs to be supported, not changed. And any reform needs to be at force level.”