In July this year Lincolnshire Police issued proceedings for a Judicial Review of the College of Policing’s decision not to allow Lincolnshire Police to develop and maintain a Level 4 initial training programme for new recruits.
This action was in response to national plans to implement a new officer recruitment process which requires all recruits to have an academic degree or be prepared to commit to study for one in work time.
The announcement by Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly of that legal challenge was at the start of the process, and is still continuing today.
Mr Skelly explained: “I am very disappointed that the College has refused to change its position. I proposed that Lincolnshire Police would be a control group to assess whether the new entry routes improve the quality of police officers. Lincolnshire Police has worked with the College for two years in an effort to try and avoid the need to take this action but during that time the College have refused to accept what a detrimental effect the introduction of PEQF would have to Lincolnshire Police.”
The legal claim, which runs to 42 pages in length plus supporting documentation, contends that the College of Policing has failed to make sufficient assessments of abstractions, other costs, equalities impact, and the integration of the PEQF workforce with the existing 122,000 serving officers.
Andrew White, Assistant Chief Officer for Lincolnshire Police said: “Two years ago the College did not accept that the abstraction and others costs related to the introduction of PEQF were substantial. Over time we have provided them with detailed documentation to show that for a force as small as Lincolnshire the additional abstraction cost – time away from front line duties – would account to at least 40 officers per years, almost 10% of our response and patrol strength. Latterly the College have accepted this analysis but have not reassessed whether this impacts on the implementation of the scheme. Even now the College has not undertaken any work regarding the expected increased turnover on the police service and the consequential impact on pension scheme deficits.”
Mr Skelly concluded: “I regret that we have had to take this action but we have no other choice when faced with the College ‘s refusal to compromise. Our action is designed to allow PEQF and a revised level 4 entry route to co-exist until 2023 at which time a proper evaluation can be undertaken to assess whether the benefits of the increased costs and qualification requirement has developed better police officers.”
As part of the court process the defendant has three weeks to respond to the claim. A judge will then consider whether to grant an oral hearing for full consideration of the Lincolnshire Police claim.
For more on PEQF and Lincolnshire’s position can be found here:
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