Thumbs up for IPLDP from ALI

It is “all systems go” on the national roll out of the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme, according to the Home Office.

It commissioned the Adult Learning Institute to carry out an independent study into the effectiveness of IPLDP – which is intended to replace stage two of the traditional probationer training scheme.

Home Office based Head of Police Training, Development and Recruitment, Gareth Redmond, said the report from the ALI had been very positive and constructive for the forces which had been piloting the new IPLDP.

He also said it was encouraging news for the continued roll out of the policy, which should see nearly every force in England and Wales have IPLDP in place by April 2006.

The ALI praised the IPLD specifically for its emphasis on self-directed learning for recruits, in-force training and assessment and also the added value generated by sending officers on work placements within the communities they would be based in.

Mr Redmond said: “In the past officers have been trained at central training sites to carry out procedures in certain ways, but have found when they have returned to force they have essentially had to relearn everything because the force has its own procedure.

“The ALI was very positive about the use of community volunteers and placements within the communities the recruit would be policing. It has helped to reinforce those community and diversity values which the police has looked to develop.”

Currently North Wales, West Midlands, Cleveland, Kent and the Metropolitan forces have launched pilot schemes to trail the IPLDP. Mr Redmond said forces in the North West and North East had shown willingness to come on board ahead of the official roll out and he expected around 20 more to have IPLDP procedures in place by April next year.

He added the ALI had highlighted areas of concern in the process, which were being addressed as part of the pilot evaluation. The most pressing concern had been about getting the work-based assessment part of the process working smoothly – and said partners such as Centrex were working with the Home Office to ensure assessors were trained and in place.

Mr Redmond said: “Obviously now we’re expecting chief officers to be committed to getting this up and running. There are a lot of benefits of this initiative for everyone.”