Title of Meeting: Professional Committee

Title of Meeting: Professional Committee

Date:2nd November 2016

Time:11:00 – 14:00

Venue:Avonmouth House, 6 Avonmouth Street, London, SE1 6NX.

Apologies: Martyn Underwood, Simon Byrne, Sara Thornton, Martin Inness, Cat McIntyre, George Hamilton, Katy Bourne.

Item 1: Minutes and Actions of Previous Meeting

1.1The minutes and actions arising from the previous meeting were reviewed and agreed.

Item 2:Update on Ministerial Priorities (David Lamberti)

2.1David Lamberti highlighted the government’s commitment to continue with the police

reform agenda; promote workforce flexibility and collaboration and improve accountability through proposed changes to the IPCC. There will also be an emphasis on localism and local public service integration. Ministers saw the role of the College in supporting the professional development of the workforce and in helping to build police capabilities to deal with modern crime as pivotal.

2.2Members emphasised the importance of officer safety remaining a key area of focus. The extension of the IPCC powers to investigate misconduct to improve public confidence in policing was recognised, however, it was felt that the IPCC needed to build their investigative capability to undertake this role effectively. Members also discussed the need for clarity on the proposed infrastructure changes and collaboration between the police and fire service.

Item 3: Specialist Capabilities (Chris Sims)

3.1Members received an update on the Specialist Capabilities Review being supported through the Police Transformation Fund. The review is focused on ways of building police capability initially, in five key areas: roads policing; armed policing; TSU; surveillance and major investigations. It’s proposed that in future these specialist capabilities are delivered through a ‘networked policing’ model based on greater sharing of resources across forces through bi/tri-laterals, regional or other arrangements. It is suggested that national capability leads could provide leadership across each specialist capability. To progress this, work will be undertaken to look at ways in which shared capabilities can be best managed and resourced and a more collective operational response can be fostered.

3.2It was suggested that clear national standards and the introduction of a ‘licence to practise’ across some high-risk areas could help to support and provide further confidence to forces to share resources across specialist capability areas. Members were broadly supportive of the proposed approach, however the importance of having robust accountability arrangements in place was emphasised.

Item 4: Workforce Futures (Giles York & Clare Davies)

4.1The Committee was given an overview of national workforce structures aimed at supporting development ofthe current and future workforce. The Workforce Futures programme focuses on assisting forces to attract, develop and reward those working in policing, as well as supporting individuals wishing to exit and re-enter the profession.

4.2The fit across different programmes and delivery arrangements was explained. During discussion members emphasised the importance of providing a coherent national offer and the need for wider communication to clarify available opportunities. Members also highlighted the need to address cultural barriers to exit and re-entry, the need to support workforce well-being and recognise the role of Specials.

Item 5: Police Education Qualification Framework (Sam Peach)

5.1Members were provided with an update on the PEQF and amendments made following decisions made by the College Board and previous Committee feedback. It was agreed by the Board that further modelling and consultation with Chiefs and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine a reasonable cost and timeframe for implementation will be undertaken. Discussions took place on the proposed 2020 implementation date and the effect of the apprenticeship levy in Welsh forces, as well as the effect on Special Constables.

Item 6: Developing Role Profiles for Policing (Sam Peach)

6.1The Committee was updated on the College’s work to create new role profiles for policing based on clear professional standards (replacing current national occupational standards). Work has been funded by a grant from the Police Transformation Fund and is due to be completed by summer 2017. Members agreed that ranks and specialist roles should be prioritised for initial focus.

Item 7: Competency & Values Framework (CVF) (Louise Meade)

7.1Members formally endorsed the CVFso that it can be shared to forces and used in all national selection processes from the next design cycle. The Committee supported the suggestion for forces to adopt the new framework by the end of the financial year 2017/18.It was agreed that the associated FAQs could be clearer and the College agreed to look at these.

Item 8: Licence to Practise (Alex Marshall)

8.1Members were updated on the College’s proposals to develop a licence to practise in high risk areas of policing such as public protection. The College will require additional powers to allow it to establish and maintain registers of professionals deployed within these areas. Individual practitioners will need to demonstrate they have met the specified standards and wider professional development requirements set by the College. Establishing national minimum standards will promote consistency of practice across high risk areas and support forces to assess competency in the operational environment. A successful Police Transformation Fund bid for a pilot of this approach in child abuse investigations is already underway, with scope to include other areas of policing.

8.2The Chair explained that there was a need to progress this work relatively quickly in order to meet current legislative timeframes. Members were broadly supportive of the approach and the Federation, Superintendents, Specials and NCA agreed to participate in ongoing development of the work.

ACTION: College to contact the relevant members of the Professional Committee to request assistance with the development of the College’s work on licence to practise.

Item 9: Public Protection (Stephen Kavanagh)

9.1Members noted the outcomes of a consultation event held by the College Crime and Criminal Justice Professional Community with staff from all ranks and roles working in public protection units (PPU). The event confirmed findings from a similar 2015 survey by the Superintendents’ Association, highlighting lack of consistent practice, high workloads, and a blame culture were impacting on staff well-being across all ranks and roles working in PPUs. Committee members were supportive of the College undertaking work to provide support to those working in PPU units.

Item 10: Missing Persons Authorised Professional Practice (APP) (David Tucker)

10.1The Committee was asked to note the forthcoming publication of the Missing Persons APP. The revised APP was informed by findings from the HMIC inspection of missing persons and the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults report. The APPG report was highly critical of the ‘absent’ category and recommended that it should be abandoned. HMIC raised concerns about the inconsistent application of the ‘absent’ category but did not recommend its abandonment. In view of these concerns the College re-wrote the section of APP on ‘absent’ and following extensive consultation has retained the ‘absent’ category as an option for forces to use for cases where there is no apparent risk.

10.2Committee members were supportive of this approach. However, they highlighted that during HMIC inspection visits some inspectors adopted a critical approach towards forces using the absent category. The Committee Chair agreed to take up the issue with HMIC as it was felt this practice by inspectors undermined the permitted use of the absent category as set out in national APP.

ACTION: The Committee Chair will contact HMIC to clarify the apparent inconsistent approach being adopted by inspectors with regards to the use of the permitted ‘absent’ category, as defined within APP.

Item 11: Update on Vulnerability Work (David Tucker)

11.1Members supported the College’s work for a more consistent approach to vulnerability. This includes the development of an overarching vulnerability action plan and work to inform the development of a single definition of vulnerability. The College’s Police Transformation Fund bid to develop vulnerability training has been supported and is awaiting final approval from the Home Secretary.

11.2The College is proposing that an existing definition of vulnerability, used as part of THRIVE (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability, Engagement) is adopted and an approach that considers the relationship between the individual and contextual factors e.g. resilience, the environment, in assessing vulnerability is the preferred option. This means any person could be vulnerable depending on the specific environmental and contextual factors and the police, with other partners, have a role in managing these environments, where applicable.

Item 12: Stop and Search (Richard Bennett)

12.1Members were updated and supportive of work currently being undertaken by the College and NPCC on stop and search that includes: the publication of APP and wider training; activity to assess the impact and benefit of the recording of vehicle stops; and the College response to the recent HMIC inspection of the BUSS scheme.

12.2Following the Home Secretary’s announcement that the BUSS scheme will be extended to include a requirement for forces to record vehicle stops under s. 163, an NPCC working group has been established to oversee a four-force pilot of the proposed requirement. The College will provide advice on the evaluation of the pilot and will help review the type and use of data that are recorded.

Item 13: Alternative Fitness Test (Giles York)

13.1The Committee endorsed the use of the Chester Treadmill Police Walk Test and Chester Treadmill Police Run Test as the best available alternatives to the current Shuttle run test and noted the limitations of the research underpinning the validation of the tests.

Item 14a and14b: College Business and Chief Constables’ Council Update

14a.1Members were updated on discussions from the College’sCoordination and Development Group meeting in August and September and updated on the College’s intention to implement an oversight process to keep under review all national products that it has responsibility for. It is the intention that a review schedule will be shared with the Committee in due course, as this will have an impact on future resourcing, as well as the decommissioning of existing products and service.

ACTION: To bring to a future Committee the College’s review schedule of national products and services that is maintains responsibility for maintaining.

14b.1Members were updated on the decisions and actions from the October Chief Constables’ Council meeting.

Item 15: Any Other Business

15:1None tendered.

****MEETING CLOSED****

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