OSPRE II pass rate increases

A higher rate of officers passed the inspector examination in England and Wales compared to last year, figures released by the College of Policing today have shown.

Out of 581 candidates sitting the OSPRE Part II Inspectors’ Assessment, 85.9 per cent (499) were successful. This was compared to 76.6 per cent (511) of the 667 applicants who passed the same tests last year.

Female candidates once again had a higher success rate than male candidates, with 89.6 per cent of female officers (112) passing compared to 84.9 per cent of male officers (387).

Eight forces – Cumbria Constabulary, Northamptonshire Police, North Yorkshire Police, Port of Tilbury Police, South Wales Police, South Yorkshire Police, Surrey Police, West Midlands Police and Wiltshire Police – reported 100 per cent of their applicants passing OSPRE II.

This was the first round of examinations to take place under the college since it was established this year, with last year’s results coming under the leadership of the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA).

Ciaran McGuigan, head of examinations and assessment at the College of Policing, said the higher pass rate was a good indication of the dedication of officers in the service, adding changes to the tests to further stress its public-facing nature made for encouraging reading.

“The increase in the overall pass rate compared to last year reflects very well on the commitment of the officers to achieve important standards of professional development,” he said.

“This year’s exercises emphasised the importance of inspectors managing change, acting with integrity and ensuring that their actions and decisions are proportionate and in the public interest. Collectively, those who met the national standard demonstrated that they are ready for promotion to the next rank, and have the knowledge, skills and abilities to deliver a high-quality service to the communities they serve.”