GOVERNMENT plans to introduce direct entry to the police service could put the public at risk, the Police Federation of England and Wales has warned.<\/p>\n
Proposals to introduce direct entry to superintendent level, as well as a fast-track scheme to inspector level and the ability to recruit chief constables from overseas, have been announced by policing minister Damian Green.<\/p>\n
Officers could reach inspector level within just three years while a superintendent could be recruited from outside the force with just 15 months\u2019 training.<\/p>\n
\u201cDirect entry at senior ranks will make sure that there is access to the best pool of talent, those who have proven leadership and business skills and who can bring with them fresh thinking from other sectors,\u201d said Mr Green<\/p>\n
But the Police Federation for England and Wales has warned that the public could be put at risk if the proposals go ahead. Steve White, vice-chair of the Police Federation, said his fear was how someone without policing experience would tackle major incidents.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to look at the risk to the public, at a superintendent level you could be overseeing a public order incident, football match or firearms situation \u2013 would you want a manager from a supermarket dealing with that?<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil you have turned up to a domestic incident, had to deal with a road traffic accident and spoken to the family of someone who has died or been injured, you don\u2019t know what it takes to be a cop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek Barnett, president of the Police Superintendents\u2019 Association of England and Wales, echoed the warning, saying allowing people to become superintendents after 15 months\u2019 training would present \u201crisks to the public and police officers\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Barnett added that one of the benefits of having an operational grounding is that \u201cyou have been able to deal with critical incidents, you have felt the collar of criminals, you have dealt with the very sad incidence of dead bodies\u201d.<\/p>\n
David Hanson, Labour\u2019s shadow policing minister, welcomed fast-track promotions but said there must be \u201csufficient training\u201d for officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government needs to explain how they think only 15 months\u2019 training for superintendents is sufficient. The public will be nervous about the idea that the borough commander in charge of hundreds of police officers, dealing with everything from riots to rapes to neighbourhood policing and community reassurance has only had 15 months\u2019 training or experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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