Member

The first police encounter shapes victim confidence. In areas such as violence against women and girls, research shows that insufficient training leads to half of allegations being withdrawn within days, protective orders being underused and modern slavery going undetected. Chief constables acknowledge the pressure of time and resources, and call for more flexible, modernised training. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has warned of fragmented commissioning and inconsistent quality. I welcome the creation of a new strategic training panel, chaired by the chief executive of the College of Policing, and the college’s review of compliance and quality assurance. These are steps in the right direction, but much more is needed.