INTRODUCING a new Level 5 learning programme as the new non-degree police officer entry route is \u201ctoo complex and slapdash\u201d, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
The current Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) entry route has been assessed as Level 6, and the national PFEW has said that bringing in a Level 5 programme as the fourth entry route into policing is \u201cill-conceived\u201d and \u201ca cause for concern in terms of ensuring a fair approach between different learning routes\u201d.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: \u201cIt\u2019s too complex and slapdash. We at South Yorkshire Police Federation think there\u2019s going to be a mixed system \u2013 I don\u2019t think you should have to have a degree or work towards a degree to be a police officer, because it\u2019s a hands-on role, it\u2019s not something that necessarily needs that level of qualification.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this development, rather than simplifying the system, has the potential to make it even more complex than it already is. I welcome a discussion about having a two-tier entry route, because we need to attract people with life experience who might not want to go down that route of studying. Some of the best officers I\u2019ve worked with are ex-military, ex-prison officers, people like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this isn\u2019t necessarily the way to go about it. There should just be two ways of coming into the police. You either have a degree, which will help you further into the career, potentially, or you don\u2019t and you have to go down a different path. Simple as that.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo back to the old days \u2013 there\u2019s nothing wrong with potentially having a mixed system. And another thing that has to be said is that the Government has put forces on a footing to deal with solely degree entries, so the force has spent a lot of money on putting the infrastructure into that, only to be told: \u2018Oh, we\u2019re reinventing the wheel again\u2019. So there\u2019s no consistency either.\u201d<\/p>\n