Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster has renewed her calls for the Government to maintain the non-degree entry route into policing to ensure new recruits better reflect the communities they serve.
Welcoming Derbyshire’s latest cohort of newly-trained police officers, the Commissioner wrote to Home Secretary Suella Braverman asking the Government to permanently re-instate the IPLDP route for new police officers which enables people to join the force without a prior degree education.
The Commissioner has also joined other Police and Crime Commissioners nationally in signing a joint letter to the Home Secretary calling for a more flexible approach to recruitment allowing police forces the choice of having IPLDP+ and the new Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEOF) courses available to new entrants.
This, they argue, would provide forces with a better opportunity to recruit a wider range of people including those with military backgrounds or serving Specials and PCSOs. It would also speed up recruitment.
Commissioner Angelique Foster said: “Derbyshire residents have been clear that they want to see more officers on the streets, tackling the issues and crimes that affect them most. I do not believe the use of IPLDP alongside other degree-linked routes impairs our ability to deliver a professional policing service, in fact it arguably ensures policing better reflects the communities it serves.
“Throughout 2022/23 Derbyshire Constabulary has made use of the IPLDP scheme, as well as other entry route schemes, to give as many candidates as possible the opportunity to become a police officer and to help keep their communities safe. This has made the force’s recruitment drive very successful and both the Chief Constable and I agree that we have seen a varied cohort coming forward this time round.
“By retaining this scheme, it will help deliver on this commitment much more quickly by utilising the experience and skills of a much wider number of potential applicants and also of current Police Community Support Officer’s or Special Constables who may wish to join the force full time.”
Derbyshire Constabulary has recently re-introduced the IPLDP route for new police officers to support recruitment as part of the national Uplift programme.
The Commissioner fully supported the approach, saying it provided an entry-point for people who did not hold or want to hold a degree but would nevertheless possess the right skills and aptitude to serve their communities.
As part of her Police and Crime Plan, the Commissioner has prioritised ‘Strong Local Policing’ and believes a key part of its delivery is ensuring the Constabulary recruits and retains police officers from the widest pool of backgrounds and experience.
Ends
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair – 01283 821012 / 07702 541401