HMIC inspection training matters - progress on recommendations

Report: 14
Date: 3 October 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides the regular six monthly update to the Human Resources Committee on HR recommendations contained in Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) inspection reports. The main focus of this update is the national thematic inspection of probationer training ‘Training Matters’, published in January 2002. It also reports the latest position on the recommendations for action contained in the MPS inspection report 2000/01, Open all Hours, published in December 2001 and outstanding recommendations from earlier inspections.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Training Matters – National Thematic Inspection of Probationer Training, January 2002

Background

1. HMIC carried out an inspection into probationer training during 2001. Its subsequent report, Training Matters, was published in January 2002. The report contains 59 recommendations. The vast majority of the recommendations identify leads (ACPO, Home Office, APA and Centrex) outside of individual constabularies and only 11 of the recommendations are noted for direct action by all forces. A further small number of recommendations affect the MPS since uniquely amongst forces it, like Centrex, is a provider of foundation training. The final recommendation is that a complete review of probationer training is undertaken since HMIC considers the present arrangements no longer fit for purpose.

2. Because the majority of the recommendations affect the whole service and are not intended to be taken forward by individual forces, the Home Office set up a stakeholder group to identify how best to take the recommendations forward. This group, the Training Matters Action Group (TMAG) has subsequently become a sub-committee of the newly formed Police Training and Development Body (PTDB), which has replaced the former Police Training Council as part of the wider reforms set out in the Criminal Justice and Police Act. The MPS is represented on both TMAG and the PTDB.

Recommendations affecting all forces

3. Recommendations affecting all forces are necessarily generalisations and any implied criticism may not apply to a specific force. In general, we believe that the necessary procedures are in place within the MPS to satisfy all these recommendations but we recognise that we do not conduct audits to ensure that they are always followed. We have recently appointed a superintendent to oversee the whole probationer training process and it is his responsibility to ensure that the good practice identified by HMIC is being followed in all cases.

Recommendations affecting Centrex and the MPS

4. We have established good relations with ACC Rogerson, the new head of probationer training at Centrex. We have agreed that design and development of a new course will be done jointly and must be fit for purpose. We are already jointly engaged in the design of a new Professional Development Portfolio in response to one of the recommendations.

5. A key recommendation of HMIC’s report was that the Home Office should undertake a feasibility study into Centrex managing MPS foundation training. We have pointed out the issues surrounding this recommendation and the Home Office has agreed that it should be visited in the medium to long term rather than as an immediate priority. The emerging thoughts concerning the shape of a new model for probationer training, summarised at Appendix 1, are likely to diminish the relevance of this recommendation.

MPS action programme

6. Appendix 2 provides a summary of the actions that have been put in hand to deal with recommendations which are subject to an internal MPS action programme.

Response by Training Matters Action Group

7. Appendix 3 provides a detailed overview of the Training Matters Action Group response. This was submitted to the Police Training and Development Board for endorsement on 9 August 2002. This response assigns a priority to each recommendation and a broad assessment of the cost of implementation.

MPS inspection report 2000-2001

8. Appendix 4 provides an update on progress on the recommendations and actions previously reported to the Human Resouce Committee (HRC) on 1 November 2001 and 7 March 2002. 

Open all hours

9. The HMIC National Thematic Inspection ‘Open all Hours’ was published in December 2001 and indicated a number of strategic actions that should be taken in pursuit of three pillars: visibility; accessibility and familiarity. The MPS provided a response in July 2002, which commented on the 27 issues that were put forward for consideration at a national level by the Home Office. Details of the recommendations containing HR implications are shown at appendix 5, together with the MPS response.

Earlier HMIC inspections 

10. Updates on remaining outstanding recommendations from Winning the Race: Embracing Diversity 2001; Winning Consent, Part 1 2000 and MPS Specialist Operations 1999 are provided at appendix 6. 

C. Equality and diversity implications

1. One of the aims of the proposals for probationer training (Appendix 1) is to increase the appeal of a police career to a wider cross section of the community than at present. A reduction in the residential element would assist those with caring responsibilities while recognition of prior learning would benefit older, experienced candidates. All would benefit from the proposed diversity of licensed pathways for the preliminary stage of training since there would be the potential for candidates to chose the method, location and pace of study best suited to their individual needs and complete this phase of study within their own community. 

2. Some of the recommendations in the other reports relate directly to equality and diversity issues, such as CRR training and VEM recruitment. For the remainder there are no specific diversity implications.

D. Financial implications

1. There are no immediate financial implications associated with the Training Matters report. However, the Home Office has recognised that some recommendations will result in additional costs to forces and has indicated a preparedness to meet these.

2. There are no additional financial implications for the other reports; costs in completing actions are contained within previously allocated funding.

E. Background papers

• HMIC Report Training Matters
• Report 8 to HRC 1 November 2001
• Report 14 to HRC 7 March 2002

F. Contact details

Report author: Commander Peter Loughborough / Chris Haselden, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: Future direction of probationer training programme

1. Representatives of the MPS, Centrex, Home Office and the Police Skills and Standards Organisation (PSSO) have met to discuss the future direction of probationer training. Key features considered include:

Training to be firmly linked to National Occupational Standards (due in Dec 2002) and the competency framework. This means that the emphasis will be on outcomes rather than how skill and knowledge is obtained

Recognition of prior learning. This will allow those with specialist knowledge (particularly those with a legal or criminal justice background) to complete training in a shorter time.

A range of licensed pathways for a significant amount of the required knowledge to be acquired. There is a possibility that the FE and HE sectors may offer approved courses on full time, part time and distance learning basis

A consequently reduced residential element concentrating on applied skills, attitudes, specialist knowledge and leadership. This will ease the burden on residential centres and encourage a wider cross section of the community to consider a police career. It is envisaged that licensed police training centres will deliver this element of training. While Centrex will continue to provide such training, large forces or clusters of forces could also act as providers provided they were approved. Implementation of this concept would render irrelevant the recommendation concerning a Home Office feasibility study into Centrex management of MPS residential probationer training.

A modular approach with mandatory core modules with further mandatory modules aligned to particular specialisations. This will allow forces to elect to fast-track probationers into specialisations should they so wish.

Replacement of the 104 week probationary period with a system based on a formal qualification.

2. All of these considerations will require further work and some may ultimately not be deemed feasible. Nevertheless, the fact that they are been discussed shows just how different the future pattern of probationer training could be in comparison with the present model.

3. The proposed time scale for commencing implementation of the new model is twelve to eighteen months. This may seem ambitious but it is likely that there will be a phased approach to implementation. This would probably see the introduction of National Occupational Standards as the first step followed by a gradual extension of the use of FE/HE providers (if this was to be agreed) and consequent reductions in the residential phase. Such an approach would minimise disruption to the present system of training.

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