Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 72
72
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 519
Police leaders must set example through anti-racism training and confronting unfair behaviour.
Conclusion
It is essential also for leaders to set an example by undertaking this anti-racism training, shaping the organisational culture of their forces, confronting unfair behaviour among officers and addressing structures that disadvantage and discriminate.
Government Response Summary
The government references general training improvements for police officers, including a review of de-escalation skills training by autumn 2024, and the new 'Race Action Plan', but does not explicitly detail how leaders will specifically undertake anti-racism training or implement the other suggested actions.
Paragraph Reference:
519
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The College and police forces are responsible for developing and delivering quality training that meets the varied needs of police officers and staff to ensure that they can best engage with, support and protect our communities. The Home Office supports the College’s ambitions to continuously review and improve guidance and training on offer for police forces. As part of this, police officers need training that helps them engage with all the communities they serve. We already see some aspects of training on community engagement or particular protected characteristics available as part of the training offer to police officers and support staff. Many training programmes, such as the Fast-Track programmes, Senior Leadership Development curricular and the new Police Education Qualification Framework entry routes, emphasise the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion. Training on the use of police powers also provides guidance on their best and appropriate use, and training on conflict management is also provided. However, the Home Office agrees with the Committee that more work needs to be done to understand the consistency of the training available across forces in England and Wales. The importance of training was stressed in the independent CRED report and as part of the ‘Inclusive Britain’ response, the Home Office has committed to supporting the College and the NPCC by autumn 2024 to review and deliver any necessary improvements to police officer training in de-escalation skills and conflict management in everyday police-citizen encounters, such as use of stop and search and use of force powers. Both the NPCC and the College have also co-developed, with policing stakeholders, a new ‘Race Action Plan’ which outlines a series of measures to improve policing and secure the confidence of black people, both within policing and the public. Across policing including forces, the College and NPCC, there is a drive to ensure officers guidance and training reflects the needs of both the police and the communities they service.