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The College of Policing‘s new national safety training curriculum stems from a commitment made in the 2020 Officer and Staff Safety Review. This curriculum introduces updated conflict management guidelines, emphasising that police officers and staff should be equipped with the skills to de-escalate conflicts when possible, without resorting to force.
The scenario-based public and personal safety training uses realistic situations that officers are likely to deal with on a daily basis such as stop and search, dealing with a vulnerable person and working in custody.
The results of a year-long pilot in Avon and Somerset, show a nine per cent reduction in the use of force by officers who took part in the new training. The pilot highlights that Avon and Somerset alone would have recorded around 1,200 fewer use-of-force incidents over a full 12 months (an 11 per cent reduction).
If the training has the same impact across the country, there could be tens of thousands fewer conflict situations successfully managed without officers needing to use force.
The evaluation shows the training is equipping officers to deal more effectively with the challenges they face. While there is a greater focus on communication and de-escalation techniques, the pilot study found no evidence of officers being less likely to physically intervene where there was risk to their or the public’s safety.
There are many examples of police officers bravely facing dangerous situations, like the recent violent disorder that has broken out in parts of England. It is more vital than ever to provide our police officers with training that is relevant and gives them the skills and confidence they need to face these types of challenges.
92% of officers were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with this training, while 89% of officers said the course was relevant to the demands of their job.
You can read the evaluation of the pilot in full here.
The College of Policing has also published the first set of national standards in this area of police training. Authorised professional practice (APP) is the official source of guidance, helping everyone in policing deliver trusted and effective policing that cuts crime and keeps people safe.
The new public and personal safety training guidance will support forces to deliver this training to a consistently high standard. This includes every officer receiving at least 12 hours of training in this area per year.
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