THE AMOUNT of training officers receive in personal safety varies widely depending on where they serve in the UK, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.<\/p>\n
The disparity has been described as a \u201cpostcode lottery\u201d by the Police Federation of England and Wales. In South Yorkshire, the bare minimum amount of contact time is three hours every three years. However, most police officers attend a two-day training session each year.<\/p>\n
Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said the organisation was \u201chappy\u201d with the amount of training front line officers receive.<\/p>\n
Previously, ACPO guidelines \u201cstrongly recommended\u201d that each officer received a minimum of 12 hours of personal safety training a year. However, the College of Policing has said \u201cthere is no longer a set time in hours that forces must offer\u201d.<\/p>\n
Just over one third of UK police forces provided at least 12 hours to each of their officers in the last financial year.<\/p>\n
Only two forces, West Midlands and West Mercia Police, offered more, while some forces provided just three and a half hours.<\/p>\n
Since 2006, when a similar survey of personal safety training hours was carried out, at least 17 forces in England and Wales have reduced the minimum number of hours they provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy question to forces that have reduced their hours is: why?\u201d said Paul Davis, a member of the Police Federation of England and Wales\u2019s Operational Policing sub-committee. \u201cIs it for financial reasons or because there are not enough trainers? Or is it for scientific reasons after a proper assessment?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always said that there is a postcode lottery for officers when it comes to personal safety training. What forces must be doing is carrying out a strategic threat and risk assessment. I would not like to see forces reducing their personal safety training unless they have an objective reason to. If it is done on a financial basis, I would encourage forces to revisit that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regular personal safety training is believed to help reduce the number of officer assaults, which occurred every 27 minutes in the UK last year.<\/p>\n
It can also reduce complaints from members of the public about unnecessary use of force, said Mr Davis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe policing landscape is changing. With an ever-reducing workforce, there are fewer officers on the streets and more are likely to be single crewed. Officers need regular refresher training,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a familiarisation of skills. If you don\u2019t regularly refresh your technique, you can lose it. I think it comes down to having confidence. Officers are less likely to rely on CS spray or their baton if they are confident in the techniques needed to restrain a suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n
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