New training for neighbourhood frontline officers and PCSOs
The College of Policing is releasing new intensive, classroom-based training modules for frontline officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) as part of the neighbourhood policing programme (NPP).
This builds on the new phase of neighbourhood policing training released in March, which introduced officers to three specialist areas: working in partnership to prevent and reduce crime; protecting communities from serious and organised crime; and offender management
The new modules will see officers moving into the classroom, where the learning becomes more intensive and hands-on. As with earlier releases, officers build knowledge online, develop skills in the classroom and demonstrate their ability to work to national standards through their assessment portfolio.
The college said this release of modules four to six completes the training available to frontline officers and PCSOs.
“Every neighbourhood officer and PCSO in England and Wales now has access to the full NPP career pathway for frontline roles,” it said.
“More than 23,000 officers and PCSOs have completed the first stage of this training online, with over 600,000 individual online modules completed so far. Over 10,000 officers have also completed the first stage of the classroom-based training, across all 43 forces in England and Wales.”
The NPP is establishing neighbourhood policing as a recognised specialism, with the same standing as other areas of policing, such as firearms or investigations.
It gives officers and PCSOs a dedicated package of training and a clear career pathway, helping them build deeper community connections and develop their careers in neighbourhood roles for longer.
“This work sits at the heart of the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, its plans for wider police reform, and Safer Streets,” the college said.
“We will continue to support forces to embed the programme and ensure officers can put their training into practice. We’re also developing specialist leadership training for superintendents, chief superintendents and aspiring chief inspectors.”
NPP4 will sit alongside the college’s existing senior leaders programme, completing a career pathway that runs from newly-deployed constable to strategic leader.
All parts of the neighbourhood policing programme are available on College Learn.