Police college told to undergo `major change`

The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) has criticised the Garnerville police training college for a “pervading culture” which is “not conducive to a safe and professional learning environment”.

A review commissioned by an officer from Police Scotland has called for a “major change” within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) college in East Belfast.

The report was ordered after more than 50 trainee PSNI officers were found to have cheated in an exam and were ordered to repeat the 22-week programme.

A number of key areas were examined by the review including the content of the student officer programme, the culture within the police college and the verification of examinations and assessments.

A spokesperson for the NIPB said: “Whilst providing some assurance on aspects of the areas of police training examined, the report highlights areas of practice where major change is immediately needed.

“The review reveals that the organisational and behavioural standards that the board expects from all the staff of the PSNI are not being consistently met in the college.

“Findings that some activities and the pervading culture in the college are not conducive to a safe and professional learning environment is a matter of most serious concern to all of the board members and that is why following receipt of the report, significant time has been invested by the board in considering plans for moving forward.

“The chief constable has provided the board with an implementation plan that effects this change within the college and those that impact on the wider organisation. A further special meeting is scheduled for Thursday (November 10) to discuss final implementation arrangements with the chief constable and future recruitment plans.”

It is understood that the report, leaked to various media outlets, criticises the Garnerville regime as “pseudo-militaristic”, with students marching to and from classes.

Recruits were allegedly made to exercise in uniform and run long distances in “business attire”, while some were punished for dripping taps or dust on the floor.

Working days start at 7:30am and end at 11:30pm and some students are also forced to take part in military style “show parades” if they make a mistake or have not performed well.

Despite this, the report said there were many examples of good practice and considered the course content as “fit for purpose”.

As a result of the review, the PSNI has put an end to students marching to and from lessons and groups of students will be referred to as “classes” rather than “squads”.

Formal drill practice will continue but will be reduced to focus on the preparation of ceremonial occasions.

Fifty recommendations were made by the report, with the PSNI accepting them all.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd, who recently took charge of Garnerville, said: “We have, I think, in an attempt to raise our standards, lost our balance.

“That which was designed to make people pay attention to detail has lost its balance and become unacceptable.

“We have acknowledged that within the report and we have a plan to deal with those things going forward and make the situation better for the future.”

In June, it was found that an additional 24 PSNI officers had been caught cheating in an exam, bringing the total to 80. Those caught cheating were handed a written warning.

At the time of the scandal revelation, NIPB member Ross Hussey said anyone caught cheating “should have been sacked straight away”, with some members of the board accusing Chief Constable George Hamilton of being “too lenient” on the students.

All training at Garnerville was suspended in August until December after the cheating scandal was uncovered. The PSNI now hopes that a new recruitment campaign can take place in January.

The NIPB will be discussing the report on Thursday (November 10).

The chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Mark Lindsay, said: “Since recruitment was suspended in August, we have had no new recruits through the gat