Officer promotions set to change

Changes to police regulations are being implemented for officers seeking promotion across England and Wales, the College of Policing has confirmed.

The announcement, made on November 21, means that officers who want to be promoted from constable to sergeant, or sergeant to inspector, will now undergo the National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF).

The programme has been trialled in seven police forces (Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Merseyside Police, the Metropolitan Police Service, Sussex Police and Thames Valley Police) and will now be rolled out nationally in the New Year.

Currently officers sit two exams, OSPRE I and OSPRE II, before becoming eligible for promotion.

Under NPPF, officers will sit the OSPRE I exam on law, while OSPRE II will be replaced by a local selection process to identify the best candidates at the next rank. If successful, they will be selected for temporary promotion and undergo a 12-month work-based assessment programme before any final promotion.

The decision was taken following a recommendation by the College of Policing Board and the Police Promotion Examinations Board to adopt the NPPF. The Chief Constables` Council has also endorsed the framework.

The College believes that officers will benefit by developing through a supported work programme while the police service will benefit by having officers who are trained to the same national standard.

Alex Marshall, chief executive of the College of Policing, said the introduction of the NPFF is the first significant change to the promotion process for many years.

“It will give newly promoted sergeants and inspectors the operational and leadership skills they need, while ensuring there is a national standard across policing,” he said.

Policing Minister Mike Penning said: “The NPPF will make sure officers who want to win promotion are developing the skills they need in a consistent way across England and Wales.”

Results already obtained under OSPRE II will remain valid.