Staff Development in the Police Service
| Author | Edgar Anstey |
| Published date | 01 July 1964 |
| Date | 01 July 1964 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6403700702 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DR.
EDGAR
ANSTEY
Civil Service Commission
STAFF
DEVELOPMENT
IN
TIlE
POLI~E
SERVI~E
This article is based on a
talk
given to the first Senior Staff Course
at the Police College.
It
must not be taken as necessarily represent-
ing the views of any government department.
In 1951-53 I had the advantage of visiting numerous police forces
while serving in the police department of the Home Office, and I
thereby acquired aprofound regard for the police and their work.
It
has occurred to me that the general principles of staff development
could with advantage be applied within the police service, and I
welcome the opportunity to develop this theme.
Attracting Suitable Recruits
The police must attract sufficient recruits, including a proportion
with a high standard of education. The problem was clearly set out
in the Royal Commission Report of 1962, in particular paras. 298
and 308:
298. We said in
our
interim report that the available evidence on the
educational quality of recruits to the Police Service gave some ground for
concern; and we stressed that no recruitment policy could be deemed
satisfactory unless (a) it secured an adequate number of efficientpolicemen,
and, (b) it attracted sufficient young men of such ability and educational
attainments as would fit them to occupy in due course the highest posts in
the Service.
308. We have come across no recent instance of a university graduate
entering the Service; only about Iper cent. of recruits have two or more
G.C.E. passes at advanced level; a further 10 per cent. have five or more
G.C.E. subjects at ordinary level; and in addition, some 20 per cent. have one
to four G.C.E. subjects at ordinary level. These figures relate to recruits
accepted in the usual way at 19 plus. Boys entering the service as cadets
tend to possess rather higher educational qualifications. On the basis of
these figures we commented that, while the PoliceService attracts asubstan-
tial number of grammar school boys, most of them belong to the lower half
of those who leave the grammar school at the age of 16.
Letters to The Times on November 28, last, from Mr. Blenkin,
chief constable of the East Riding and on December 12, from Mr.
Muir, chief constable of Durham, emphasized that, whereas until a
few years ago many able young men had to leave school early, of
whom some became policemen and were available to progress to
the highest posts, most able young men now get to universities or
other forms of higher education. Very few graduates now enter
the Police Service or could be advised to do so under existing condi-
tions. There is therefore need for good prospects of accelerated
promotion for the best entrants, as recommended in para. 314 of
the Royal Commission Report. In his letter to The Times of
July 1964 308
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