Policing Should Not Revisit Failed Direct Entry Scheme

Specialist officers could be parachuted directly into the inspecting ranks under plans for policing reforms announced in the Government’s policing white paper.

Professionals will be urged to join the police service through a fast-track that will allow forces to hire outside experts for senior roles as part of an overhaul of rules that the Home Secretary has said are “archaic”.

The Home Office said it wanted the direct entry scheme to persuade professionals in sectors such as the financial industry to take on senior policing roles to fight complex fraud, or tech experts to combat crimes such as online child abuse.

But South Yorkshire Police Federation has hit out at the plans, saying that the scheme had failed in the past and is unnecessary today.

Steve Kent, Federation Chair, said: “We are not a supporter of direct entry. While there are some examples within our force and elsewhere where direct entry recruits have ended up being cracking officers, on the majority of occasions, the system has failed.

“We should be focusing on investing and identifying talent within our own policing ranks and nurturing that talent, using fast-track and high-potential schemes rather than bringing people in who’ve got no credibility. We’ve been here before. We don’t need to revisit it again.”