Police: Training

Home Department written question – answered at on 17 October 2013.

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Photo of Siobhain McDonagh Siobhain McDonagh Labour, Mitcham and Morden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

(1) what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of compulsory paid-for Certificate in Knowledge of Policing courses as a requirement for applying to become a police officer on (a) the demographic composition of police forces and (b) how representative police forces are of the communities they serve;

(2) which police forces offer bursaries or other financial assistance to pay fees for Certificate in Knowledge of Policing courses to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds;

(3) which police forces require potential applicants for police officer roles to have completed a Certificate in Knowledge of Policing prior to application.

Photo of Damian Green Damian Green Minister of State (Ministry of Justice and Home Office) , The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice

The Certificate in Knowledge of Policing is not a requirement for entry in to any force. It is one of a number of routes and is designed to increase access and inclusion and to build the profession of policing. The College of Policing is monitoring take up of the new qualification, including the demographic data of candidates. It is too early to give an informed response of its effect as the certificate is in its infancy and recruitment in forces outside Metropolitan Police Service is low.

No forces have established bursary schemes for students undertaking the Pre-Join programmes but a number are considering doing so.

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