9 Comments
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Dave Marshall's avatar

Great article, Rory. Sums up pretty much everything I have been saying about CoP for some time, much of it based on my own experiences of working there.

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Mike H's avatar

I hope so along with its staff!

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Kevin Robinson's avatar

Great article and as a retired officer it saddens me that the College of Policing has been instrumental in the position the service finds itself. Trust by the public has been eroded due to a disturbing level of woke indoctrination across all aspects of policing and a lack of common sense and integrity by the senior leaders in the college. Time for real change I think.

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Jeremy Poynton's avatar

Put it this way. Robert Peel would be HORRIFIED by the College of Policing.

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Paul Birch's avatar

I really hope so.

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Dom's avatar

Please make it so.

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Steve Dodd's avatar

Rory,

CoP Neighbourhood Week.

Any progress ...?

https://policeprofessional.com/feature/opportunity-knocks-4/

Steve Dodd

CILPM

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Mark Brown's avatar

Policing needs to be kept quite simple but allow for flexibility as and when required. It’s beset by constant changes and that change culture coming from the top has consequences…just like cuts do! This is a list of how I’d like policing to be provided with a constant & consistent approach:

Police funding is proportional

Workforces sustainable

Leadership that’s inspirational

Culture identifiable

Bureaucracy minimal

Policy simple

Political intrusion invisible

Targets negligible

The Private sector reciprocal & responsible

Structure local

Neighbourhood policing fundamental

Overall strategy plural

Presence in communities visible & non-negotiable

Communications visual & audible

Equality attainable but natural

Delivery practicable & ethical

Data useful & useable

Changes tangible but also sensible!

Problem solving viable

Wellbeing essential

Demand manageable

The past reconcilable

Public trust & confidence unequivocal

Outcomes successful

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Mark Brown's avatar

Thanks for writing this Rory because the CoP does have to answer to questions raised about its existence. Has it been value for money here…has it been successful in creating a hub of innovation and operational & strategic value…and has it been inclusive in terms of generating a culture of improvement and pragmatic development that means the officer on the street is part of all that and can relate to it? I think without any surveys required the answer to the last question is an overwhelming no…I never came across any colleagues who would answer yes in 8 years of policing. For me it was a decent idea in theory but in reality over the last 13 years it’s been a convoluted policy vacuum via a clique of ideological elites who ironically haven’t done much practical policing incessantly attempting to promote their agenda of ‘what works’ when some of it simply doesn’t! Some of it has been useful so it’s not all bad but perhaps the visionary approach it’s tried to establish could be better done in another entity…as soon as the CoP brand is stamped on a policy or document most working officers/staff breath a derisory sigh and loathed to embrace it. I will be interested to see how these new P-ACE centres of excellence fare that are being set up at 9 universities in the UK. The verdict is out on the CoP…always has been and probably always will until it ceases to exist…or manifests into old wine poured into a new bottle. I’m not sure even a change of CEO can save it now or the current one talking tough on crime when it’s evident he may not subscribe to that notion as the evidence in your blog highlights.

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