About the College of Policing

The College of Policing will serve the public interest, enhancing the British model of policing by consent. This is a model for which the police service in England and Wales is admired right across the world.

What will the College of Policing do?

Protect the public interest by:

• promoting the values of effective policing
• learning from and supporting improvement in policing
• maintaining ethics and values

Set and enhance first-class national standards of professionalism to ensure excellence in operational policing by:

• developing a set of nationally agreed standards for officers and staff to attain
• providing frameworks for standards to be tested and achievement rewarded
• supporting national business areas

Identify evidence of what works in policing and share best practice by:

• providing access to a body of knowledge that is informed by evidence-based research and best practice
• continuing to develop an understanding of the evolving threats to public safety and enable the service to retain the capabilities needed

Support the education and professional development of police officers and staff by:

• developing and maintaining the national policing curriculum, assessment and accreditation frameworks
• delivering leadership and specialist training
• accrediting and quality-assuring training providers
• developing future leaders and expertise through effective talent management

Enable and motivate staff and partners to work together to achieve a shared purpose by:

• working with partners to make the best use of specialist knowledge
• supporting desired behaviours and actions that embody the service’s values
• ensuring interoperability with partners and other sectors

Evidence-based policing

To deliver these objectives, the body will strengthen the links between the police service and other organisations. It will work with universities to share and develop the underlying evidence base for policing practice. It will work with other organisations, including with the private sector to ensure that, where appropriate, the police service is able to access the very best training from outside the police service. It will work closely with international partners, to ensure the police service is able to share and access the very best thinking from across the world.

There is no plan to require individual officers and staff to pay to be members of the College of Policing, for their training or to sit exams. These are issues which the statutory college may consider in the future.  The College will not issue any licence to practise policing.

What won't the College of Policing do?

The College of Policing will not:

• require officers and staff to have a licence to practise
• duplicate the roles other bodies play, like HMIC or the IPCC
• be a rebranded National Policing Improvement Agency
• investigate complaints or allegations of misconduct against police officers and staff - this will remain within the remit of the relevant police force
• create a raft of bureaucratic guidance for the police service

It will, however, play a vital role in the training and development of police officers and police staff in the future ensuring that they continue to retain the skills they need in order to fight crime and protect the public.

For more information about the creation of the police professional body, you can email npiatransition@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk