Update on the Review of the National Occupational Standards for Policing and Law Enforcement

Over the last 12 months Skills for Justice, we have been reviewing the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Policing and Law Enforcement to ensure that they are up to date and keeping pace with changes in policy and practice.

The work has focused on particular aspects of the NOS.

The latest position is as follows:

• Investigation/Interviewing – further revisions are still to be made and will be progressed in 2007/8. Once a new unit is developed for `investigating suspicions of child abuse` it will be submitted at the end of March 2007.
• Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) – revised NOS units have been finalised ready for submission at the end of March 2007.
• Custody – further revisions are still to be made. This will be progressed in 2007/8.
• Intelligence – three revised NOS units have been finalised for submission. The Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) units are to be progressed in 2007-08.
• Promotion Review/Management – revised NOS units have been finalised and will be ready for submission at the end of March 2007.
• Surveillance – further revisions are to be made and these will be taken forward in 2007/8.

Final versions of the first set of completed NOS units will be submitted for approval by the end of March 2007. It is expected that these units will have been through the approval process, re-coded and be available for use by summer 2007.

Due to the potential impact of revisions to the existing NVQs for the sector, Skills for Justice intend to consult further on the qualifications with key stakeholders later in the year.