Frequently asked questions
What is the College of Policing?
The College of Policing is the professional body for all who work in policing in England and
Wales.
What will the College of Policing do?
The role of policing is to prevent crime and protect the public. The College of Policing will
ensure all officers and staff have the right knowledge and skills to do their job.
The College will:
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set standards of professional practice
accredit training providers and set learning and development outcomes
identify, develop and promote good practice based on evidence
support police forces and other organisations to work together to protect the public and
prevent crime
identify, develop and promote ethics, values and standards of integrity.
Our Strategic Intent outlines more information about the aims of the College of Policing:
www.college.police.uk/strategicintent
By creating the College of Policing, are you saying the police are not already
professional or do not already act in the public interest?
We acknowledge the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the vast majority of police
officers and staff across policing. The public expects police officers to demonstrate integrity and
professionalism and the College of Policing will be responsible for setting the standards of
professional practice which will apply in all areas of policing.
Isn’t the College of Policing just recreating the National Policing Improvement Agency
(NPIA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) by a different name?
The College of Policing is a unique organisation in UK policing as the first professional body of
policing. It is a different entity from the NPIA, with a different mission and objectives. Its
governance is different and inclusive, and its priorities are evidence-based and commissioned
with partners within and outside policing.
We’re undergoing a thorough and extensive review of all products, services and training to
ensure they are fit for purpose. We are creating links between policing and academics to ensure
we have an evidence-base, through research of what works best.
The work developing national police guidance, which was carried out by ACPO in the past, is
now the responsibility of the College. ACPO will continue to play a role in coordinating national
operational policing and implementing College national policing guidance through its Chiefs’
Council.
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College of Policing
What difference will the College of Policing make for police officers and police staff?
As the first professional body for policing, the College of Policing’s priority is strengthening the
professionalism development of police officers and police staff.
It will set standards for professional practice, supported by the best available evidence, and
ensure that those working in policing have access to the right training to meet those standards.
What is the benefit of the College of Policing for staff associations?
The College of Policing will support the entire police service, and will listen to the views of staff
associations in all its work. Staff associations are represented on the Professional Committee. A
number of Directors of the Board also bring perspectives, knowledge and expertise from
different ranks, grades and staff associations.
Are there police officers on the College Board?
The College Board is led by an independent Chair. The directors include five police officers
nominated by staff associations, plus the College’s Chief Executive who is also a chief
constable.
The Board comprises the following 15 directors:
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the independent chair
three independent people appointed by the Home Secretary
three Police and Crime Commissioners and the chair of a police authority
a member nominated by the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales
a member nominated by the Police Federation of England and Wales
three members nominated by the Association of Chief Police Officers
a member nominated by police staff trade unions.
the College Chief Executive
What will the College of Policing do for the public?
We will work to meet the public expectation that police officers demonstrate professionalism and
integrity.
We will keep the public need at the forefront of everything we do.
We will set the standards for what the public should expect from any contact with police.
We will support links between educational institutions and policing to ensure the police in a local
area know what works well to tackle crime.
Is it appropriate for the police to set standards for themselves?
The College of Policing works for its members and in the public interest. The standards that the
College set will be underpinned by an evidence-base of what works best in policing. The
College has in place a governance process, which includes representatives and perspectives
from across policing ranks and grades, and College activity is subject to scrutiny from the 15member Board, which includes an independent chair, independent representatives, Police and
Crime Commissioners and the chair of a police authority.
The standards that the College of Policing sets will be continuously reviewed to ensure that they
deliver in the public interest.
What status will College guidance have?
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College of Policing
The College will set standards where it is in the public interest to achieve consistency across
police forces. Subject to the successful passage of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and
Policing Bill 2013, the College will be able to set codes of practice and regulations for policing in
England and Wales. This will require Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to
have regard to these codes.
Given the number of private companies now delivering policing services, what authority
will the College of Policing have over the employees of such companies?
We are clear that the values and expected standards of behaviour of the police service should
apply to all those dealing with the public when working in policing.
It is clearly in the public interest for our citizens to expect to receive the same professional
treatment, no matter who employs the people that are dealing with them.
What work will the College do with private companies who want to work for police?
The College will establish the standards which providers need to reach before working with the
police. We will also license, accredit and assure the services offered by private training
providers.
What is being done to enhance integrity in policing?
Two new Codes for police officers and staff will be introduced.
A Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics will set the expected standards for both police officers and police staff. It
emphasises the importance of personal integrity, respect for human rights and organisational
integrity. The aim is to build on the trust and confidence of the public, to whom we are
accountable.
Vetting Code of Practice
This sets out the expectations of the police service and will apply to police officers and police
staff.
There are five strands of work ongoing under the integrity programme, which are outlined within
our Strategic Intent (www.college.police.uk/strategicintent).
How will the evidence base for policing be developed?
Academic professionals will work with police to develop the evidence base.
The College is also developing the first ‘What Works Centre for Crime Reduction’. The centre is
hosted at the College of Policing and is working with universities to gather existing evidence on
what works in crime reduction. This evidence will then be made easily available for police
officers and staff to use when making decisions in their own force.
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College of Policing
What is the relationship between the College and the Government?
Although the College of Policing is currently a company limited by guarantee, with the Home
Secretary as its only shareholder, the Home Secretary has been clear that she does not believe
the Government should be responsible for the day-to-day running of the College.
Policing Minister Damien Green echoed this view, at the official launch of the College of
Policing.
He said: “Crucially, it will be independent of government, with officers from all ranks having a
direct say in their training and development.”
This is evident in practice as the College’s governance, planning and work programmes are
evidence-based and built on commissions from the police and its partners. Minsters support the
College’s aims to achieve chartered status.
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