The creation of a new policing professional body was announced by the Home Secretary in December 2011. Representatives from the Police Federation, the Superintendents' Association, ACPO and UNISON worked with the Home Office to create the college, ensuring that it represents the police service's desires and aspirations.
As soon as Parliamentary time allows, the College of Policing will be established as a statutory body, independent of government. While the necessary legislation is prepared, the college has been established as a company limited by guarantee.[5]
The college produces guidance for officers known as Authorised Professional Practice (APP). This covers topics such as firearms, stop and search, covert policing and investigations.[8]
APP is subject to continual review and update. In the first quarter of 2022, for example, there were 46 updates made to 20 individual APP categories.[9]
In 2014, the college advised police forces to record all 'non-crime hate incidents' - incidents that are perceived to be motivated by hostility but are not criminal offences.[10]
In December 2021, the Court of Appeal ruled that this guidance was unlawful and constituted a "chilling effect ... on the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression".[11] As a result, the guidance now states that freedom of speech should be prioritised where possible and that non-crime hate incidents should not be recorded where they are "trivial, irrational or malicious, or where there is no basis to conclude that an incident was motivated by hostility."[12]
The College of Policing has announced that from 2020, all new police officers in England and Wales will have to be educated to degree level.[13]
This policy will be administered through the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF),[14]
which creates three entry routes into the police:
The Pre-Join Policing Degree: This entry route involves completion of a three-year knowledge-based degree in professional policing prior to joining the police service. Becoming a special constable may be included as part of this programme. Candidates who are subsequently recruited will undertake practice-based training to develop specific skills and will be assessed against national assessment criteria in order to demonstrate operational competence.[14]
The Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP): Aimed at degree-holders whose first degree is in a subject area other than policing. This two-year practice-based programme enables candidates to perform the role of police constable. Successful completion, results in the achievement of a graduate diploma in professional policing practice[14]
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship: This is a professional degree-level apprenticeship, enabling new recruits to join the police service as an apprentice police constable and earn while they learn. During the three-year programme the apprentice will complete a degree in professional policing practice and will be assessed against national assessment criteria as an integral part of their degree apprenticeship.[14] The apprenticeship will enable non-graduates to enter the police profession, enabling them to earn a degree in Professional Policing Practice whilst 'on-the-job' as part of a three-year initial training and education programme, meaning that not having a degree will not bar non-graduates from initially entering the service.[15]
The National Police Library is operated at the college to support everyone working in UK policing; providing access to digital and print resources. It holds publications such as the Police Review magazine and Police Gazette. The latter has supported operational policing and its archives have enabled investigators to understand policing in the recent past; providing evidence for public inquiries such as the Hillsborough disaster.
