A new government scheme called 'Police Now' is set to be developed with the goal of hiring graduates to be fast-tracked to become detectives, in just 12 weeks. The initial training is short, but the graduates on the scheme will be on probation for two years afterwards and they will receive more training whilst on the job.
According to the Police Watchdog (HM Inspectorate of Constabulary of Fire and Rescue Services) there is a "National crisis," with a shortage of 5,000 investigators across England and Wales. The Mirror also reported that between September 2010 and September 2017 there was a drop of 14 percent in the number of police officers across England and Wales.
Police Now
David Spencer the co-founder and chief executive of Police Now told The Telegraph, "Working with forces and the Home Office, we hope this new scheme will encourage a new group of diverse and brilliant individuals." As a former detective himself, Spencer knows what it takes to fulfill the role of a detective.
Government Ministers have already funded the scheme with £2.8 million but plan to pledge another £350,000 with the hopes of recruiting 1,000 more detectives in the next five years, the Telegraph also noted.
However, some ranking officers feel that it would be better to choose from those who are currently in the force rather than hiring graduates to participate in a fast-track programme.
The Police Federation has warned in the past that the recruitment problem was due to poor morale among existing detectives, that stemmed from exhaustion, stress, and increased workload.
Graduate detectives
When interviewed by the BBC and The Telegraph, Chief Constable Matt Jukes stated, "We need to recruit and develop a diverse group of individuals, who will contribute to this vital area of policing and its future." The Police Now programme is currently partnered with seventeen police forces across the country including Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Metropolitan, and Thames Valley.
Jukes, who is also the head of the National Police Chief's Council, went on to say, "We would not expect to see them from a very early stage working in the most complex and high-risk investigations." On the Police Now official website there is more information on what it takes to become a part of the scheme.
The top requirements to apply for Police Now include being aged 18-57, fluency in English both spoken and written, working towards or have achieved a 2:1 degree, eligible to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for a minimum of three years.
Policing Minister Nick Hurd told The Telegraph's crime correspondent "I'm delighted to support the innovative Police Now programme." Outwardly, the scheme is receiving positive reviews from those with experience with the Detective side of the force that this programme is aiming to develop this aspect of crime prevention.
A start date has not been given as of yet for when the programme will start, but Police Now does have a strong backing behind in. The Government, Police Force, and Home Office are all working together to build this new scheme and to fix the shortage of investigators. But will Police Now be a success?
