Administration and Organization: VI. Training
| Published date | 01 July 1965 |
| Author | Keith Jempson |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6503800714 |
| Date | 01 July 1965 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
The
Promotion
Exams
CHIEF
INSP.
KEITH
JEMPSON
Surrey Constabulary
ADMINISTRATION
AND
ORGANIZATION:
VI.
TRAINING
The restraining influence exerted by an efficient system of policing
is as necessary to the welfare of society as are self-imposed moral
and physical restraints to the health of the individual. Neither of
these forces is wholly agreeable and both make demands upon the
human mind and body which can only follow from adequate train-
ing. The moral, mental and physical requirements for appointment
are indicated in reg. 7, Police Regulations, 1965. Selection from
available material is nevertheless no easy task. In addition to the
present minimum educational qualifications, a high standard of
appearance, behaviour and personal discipline is demanded for
work of great responsibility, where many temptations lurk. To serve
alone in uniform under the public eye makes a constant demand
which cannot be met without suitable preparation. The police
tradition of esprit de corps, alertness, courtesy, discretion, memory
and observation, does not pass readily to each new recruit; and our
system of probationary training is intended to lay the foundation of
long service in hard stations.
At higher levels there is more scope for ideas imported from other
services and industry at home and overseas. Selectors qualified in
social studies and psychology, experienced in ergonomics and
extended interview techniques, can assess capacity for study and
potential for leadership. In this way candidates can be assigned to
suitable tasks with manageable responsibilities and encouraged to
develop at the appropriate velocity towards aparticular area of
promotion.
Scant reference to training is made in the Police Act, 1964. In
s. 17 (1) chief officers of police may appoint cadets to undergo
training with a view to becoming members of the force, subject to
the local police authority's approval as to numbers. The nature and
scope of this training is not mentioned. Provisions for training are
implied in s. 28, which gives the Home Secretary authority to exercise
his powers in such manner and to such extent as appears to him to be
best calculated to promote police efficiency. Section 41 authorizes
the common central services of the Police College and district
police training centres. Section 42 implies an improvement of train-
ing by the setting up of research bodies.
h~N~
~
To continue reading
Request your trial