The
IPLDP and the Met
Interview
with Inspector Tony Clark
Police probationer training is undergoing a radical transformation as
the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme goes live across
all forces in England and Wales, but nowhere has the change been more
dramatic than in the Metropolitan Police Service.
Hendon has famously provided the location for the training of thousands
of police officers for the last 70 years. But this is set to change.
For the first time this year, a proportion of the new recruits will
no longer follow the traditional 18-week residential course. Instead
they will complete most of their training on a London borough.
Between a fifth and a quarter of this year's intake will be trained
as part of the new IPLD Programme. From April 2007, residential training
will be scaled down as all officers make the switch.
But for the moment, the IDLP runs in tandem with the traditional course.
All police recruits complete the five-week familiarisation programme
at Hendon which covers such areas as officer safety, health and safety,
professional standards and police ethics.
After that, the two courses diverge and those on the IPLD move to one
of three satellite areas currently sited at Barnett, Havering and Westminster
while the rest remain at Hendon. Eventually there could be as many as
15 police training sites dotted around London.
Once on site, students are immediately encouraged to begin engaging
with the communities they will eventually serve.
They become involved in the Safer Neighbourhood Team where they carry
out 'environmental visual audits' and look at areas that affect the
local community such as graffiti and noisy neighbours.
‘We
are taking a step approach. We go from simple to complex, starting with
what is going to be the bread and butter of police work. It's not all
about blue lights and fast cars. It is about engaging with the community
and listening to people.’
When the recruits reach week seven of their training, their learning
and development becomes more centred on the investigation process. The
new programme takes an end to end approach on crime with recruits closely
involved right at the start of an incident through to the court proceedings
which are simulated for the purposes of training.
‘Historically we have always been concerned that students weren't
equipped to deal with a range of situations, such as dealing with conflict,
gathering evidence or taking statements. This approach should help resolve
that,’ says Insp Clark.
‘Previously we have operated within the institution that is Hendon.
Now, under close supervision, the recruits are finding themselves in
real situations with real people. It's a steep learning curve.’
‘Already the new approach seems to be paying off. Recently three
students were involved in arresting a robber and we received very positive
feedback from the detective involved who was impressed at how well they
dealt with the incident.’
From weeks 16 to 31, the recruits take to the streets and begin patrolling
on the boroughs. This gives them the opportunity to quickly develop
their policing skills by becoming involved in a wide range of activities.
‘The main difference with the IPLDP is that we are now pushing
out training on to the boroughs. It means the recruits get used to dealing
with the public and this makes them much more competent and confident,’
says Insp Clark.
As well as real crimes, the students are also involved in mock-up incidents,
some of which are proving to be highly imaginative. One of the trainers
at Westminster borough set up a road traffic collision which involved
a member of the transgender community to see how the new recruits would
react and manage the situation. It may sound extreme, but as Insp Clark
points out, life can be that complicated, especially in policing.
The course will eventually lead to a National Vocational Qualification
(NVQ) in policing which will be nationally recognised. This, again,
represents a real departure from the traditional pass/fail examinations
towards continuous assessment.
Now, more than ever, the attitude and behaviour of recruits will be
under the microscope and measured against a checklist which covers such
areas as respect for race and diversity and effective communication
skills. These are areas that traditionally may not have been given much
credit, but are now seen as vital police skills.
‘If you have a shoplifter, your attitude towards that person could
mean the difference between them being totally compliant or them being
aggressive and violent.’
After
31 weeks, successful recruits are ready for independent patrol and will
then contribute to front-line policing in one of the 32 London Boroughs.
The challenge is then how to manage their training until they have completed
their first two years while on borough, says Insp Clark.
‘There has been a significant change in philosophy and we are identifying
what is important in police training. But it is a cultural change. We
have taken the institution of training and put it in the workplace and
that takes time.’
The Initial Police Learning and Development Programme: key events
January 2002: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) publishes a thematic report, Training Matters, prompting a fundamental review of probationer training.
January 2004: The Probationer Training Modernisation Programme evolves into a fully-fledged programme and is renamed the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme. The Home Office begins developing a new curriculum and syllabus based on National Occupational Standards, which are mapped against a Learning Requirement for Police Officers.
October 2004: Five Pilot forces (Cleveland, Kent, West Midlands, Metropolitan Police and North Wales) adopt the new programme.
January 2005: Several 'early adopter forces' including West Yorkshire and Lancashire adopt the IPLDP.
April 2005: Forces in the North East region start to implement the IPLDP.
Autumn 2005: Forces in the North West region start to implement the IPLDP.
April 2006: National implementation of the IPLDP starts. All remaining forces will start to implement the new programme in April 2006.