SOUTH Yorkshire Police has begun its search for the force\u2019s first direct entry inspectors \u2013 which could be a costly process that does not deliver the value for money promised.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the warning from South Yorkshire Police Federation after it was announced the force is one of around 20 in England and Wales that has advertised for Inspectors to join the service from industries outside policing.<\/p>\n
The Federation said that parallels may be drawn from the experiences and learning as a result of the direct entry Superintendents recruitment. However, the two ranks are not comparable.<\/p>\n
The successful inspector applicants will undergo two years of intensive police training before starting their roles as operational leaders.<\/p>\n
The application window for the 2017 Direct Entry Inspector programme is now open until Friday, 10 March, meaning Inspectors could be in post by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
But Zuleika Payne, Chair\u00a0of South Yorkshire Police Federation, warned that the process could be costly, and not deliver the value for money promised.<\/p>\n
Zuleika said: \u201cAs a direct entrant, you don\u2019t have the grounding that you would as a recruit who has served a probationary period \u2013 two years as a student officer building that rapport, networking, and getting a thorough understanding of the bread and butter of policing. Ordinarily, further years would be served at the rank of Sergeant and Inspector. By this time individuals have a proven track record to support their promotion.”<\/p>\n
And she warned that applicants may not only lack these experiences but also building relations within the community while becoming established as a Police officer.<\/p>\n
It is important to attract talent into the organisation but again, the process must be fair to the candidate. Is there not enough talent with South Yorkshire Police? Inspectors are regarded as ‘middle management’ so this is a very different scenario to the direct entry Superintendents who form part a higher management structure.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very new \u2013 it has never been done before and there is a school of thought out there that the reason it has never been done before is because it won\u2019t work. The concern is that you run the risk that it devalues what we do, because policing is incredibly unique. We are not employees, we are holders of office and with our terms and conditions of working it\u2019s unlike any other line of employment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika added that \u2013 if they become members \u2013 the Federation would support any direct entry inspectors that joined the force<\/p>\n