National Police College of England and Wales, the Fred Baddeley
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Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 63 | Issue 3 Article 12 1973 National Police College of England and Wales, The Fred Baddeley Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Fred Baddeley, National Police College of England and Wales, The, 63 J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci. 434 (1972) This Criminology is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. TuEs JouRNmu or CRIMINAL LAw, CRInINoLoGY AND POLICE SCIENCE Vol. 63, No. 3 Copyright a 1972 by Northwestern University School of Law Prinod in U.S.A, THE NATIONAL POLICE COLLEGE OF ENGLAND AND WALES* FRED BADDELEY The author has had extensive experience working with delinquent young people in Britain. He has published a number of articles on Police Juvenile Liaison Work in England as well as various articles dealing with the British Police System in publications in this country. He is currently employed at the Children's Department of the Lancaster County Council. Higher police education commenced in Great the American situation no British University Britain in 1948 with the foundation of a single awards either a degree or diploma relating to Police police College for England and Wales. This institu- Work, and in this country there is simply no tradi- tion is now permanently located at Bramshill, tion of the more academic individual looking to- Hampshire, which is about midway between wards the police service as a socially acceptable London and Portsmouth, and to date over 9000 career. Unfortunately, the present University police officers have attended one of the four courses Graduate Entry Scheme has again proved an provided. At any given point of time there are abysmal and expensive failure; for in 1970 only 97 approximately 265 students in residence with the applications were received with 9 being finally Special Course having 60, the Inspectors Course recommended for a place on the Special Course. 150, the Intermediate Command Course 30, and Before the successful applicant is eligible to begin the Senior Command Course 25. The two Senior his training which leads to accelerated promotion Command Courses are held alternately, and 10% he must be employed as an ordinary police consta- of all students come from overseas police forces. ble for three years. Women police officers also attend these Courses. A cardinal principle is upheld, that within the From the earliest days both junior and senior ranks of the police service there are ample personnel courses were liberally conceived and much time of the highest intellectual calibre to adequately fill devoted to general studies with an international all the top executive posts, and today there are context. In a relatively short space of time this over 2500 appointments above the rank of Inspec- College has gained a reputation as a progressive tor, including 200 at Assistant and Chief Officer of police academy, and it still remains the only centre Police. A Senior police official commands the for advanced police training for the 108,406 male College and normally serves for five years, and and female personnel employed in the forty-seven police instructors are seconded for two years by police authorities within England and Wales. their own Constabularies, there being no career Scotland has its own staff College which was educational structure for professional police in- established four years after Bramshill. structors. The Dean of General Studies and the Every law enforcement officer selected after other civilian members of the directing staff in- intensive competition to attend such training is variably hold University Honours degrees. All considered potential material for future promotion. College curricula is continually being renewed, and We have no short cut to police inspector status or recently a senior lecturer was appointed to special- direct entry to senior rank, and the majority of ise in accountable management. In 1961 in England police officers serving in the United Kingdom com- and Wales there were one hundred and twenty-six pleted their Secondary education long before police forces, while today there are only forty- reaching sixteen years of age. In direct contrast to seven each with an average strength of two thou- sand officers plus large auxiliary forces. Those * John C. Alderson Esq., Commandant, The Police closely involved with the police service consider College, "Bramshill House", Hartley Wintney, Hamp- shire, England, has kindly supplied much of the en- that within ten years there should only be about closed information. The Metropolitan Police, New ten regional police authorities in Great Britain, Scotland Yard, Broadway, London, S.W.1, England for suddenly intensive research, specilisation, have supplied the photographs, but the comments, suggestions and responsibility for this article are en- management by objectives, and planning, program- tirely the author's own. ming, budgeting systems have become of supreme 434 19721 NATIONAL POLICE COLLEGE importance, and for these factors to function industrialists, newspaper editors, and university effectively large police forces are essential. teachers. Airs AND METHODS OF SOCIALISATION THE SPEcIAL CoUrsE This program trains young officers of outstand- "Studiis Alilar Auctoritus or Authority is ing promise who have been finally selected by Strengthened by Learning" is the college's motto, extended interview. Successful completion of the and the spirit of brotherhood fostered within these course entitles them to be promoted to the sub- walls is really the cement which helps bind the stantive rank of sergeant and after one year's British and Commonwealth Police Forces together. satisfactory service in that rank to promotion to Two teaching projects which have been proven by the substantive rank of inspector. It is now possi- commerce, industry, military colleges, and uni- ble for an officer to qualify for admission to this versities are mainly used. These are the syndicate course before the end of his third year of service. system in which each course is divided into care- In 1970 no less than 9913 Constables sat for the fully balanced small groups of students, and Sergeant's promotion examination, 1437 were emphasis is also placed on the tutorial system so successful and a mere 38 constables being finally that all students have the benefit of personal recommended for the Special Course. The Chal- tuition for his syndicate director. Almost every lenge which faces the British Police Service in this present serving police officer in the middle and age of violence and social upheavel now highlights senior ranks is a late developer made good, and the urgent need for police officers of above average there is always the danger that too many years in ability and acceptance on this elite course is the the lower ranks does tend to restrict initiative and supreme prize in any young officers early career; breeds conforming pension seekers. Great empha- and it remains the only key to accelerated promo- sis therefore is laid on the individual aspect of the tion. students' work, with encouragement given to Academic and professional studies are divided developing forward thinking and imagination. into four terms. Essentially this college is a high class residential General Studies comprise consti- tutional and police history, government social academy, and all students and directing staff are studies, international affairs and the study of over- provided with study bedrooms, houses, or flats. seas police systems. Professional studies include Many amenities are supplied by the Police College police duties, criminal law and the Courts, orga- Club of which both students and staff are members, nisation, administration, road traffic, and scientific and among activities sponsored are the publica- man-management. During the Course students tion of the biennial College Magazine, debating, are attached to police divisions to gain insight into playreading, stage entertainment, the College districts services; local government, local police Choir, music, film shows, photography, handicrafts, services, and they make visits of observation to - and many visits to places of interest. The Police various establishments, and take a brief war-time College Students Association and the Police Col- duties course at the Civil Defence Staff College. lege Director Staff Association each hold annual Also stressed are the virtues of self help, with reunions at Bramshill which are always well students leading group discussions, chairing meet- attended: This truly magnificent estate is of great ings, and carrying out personal research projects.' antiquity, being mentioned in the Domesday Book This Special Course tries to instill into the police of 1086, apart from offering first class facilities for leaders of tomorrow the attributes of social con- leisure and. recreational activities there is a beauti- cern, compassion, allied to a wide range of profes- ful lake of seventeen acres in extent and this pro- sional law enforcement expertise. vides for fishing and boating. The College is ad- ministered by a Board of Governors under the TaE INsPEcTORs CoURsE Chairmanship of the Permanent Under Secretary The course trains newly promoted inspectors for of State at the Home Office, representing central the onerous responsibilities of their rank which is and local government and all ranks of the Service. really the backbone of the Police Service and for Many eminent lecturers from varied fields offer those of Chief Inspector. This intensive course is their services. They include judges, senior civil of three months duration and is divided into two servants, members of the armed forces, scientists, equal parts, the first consists of general studies, FRED BADDELEY [Vol. 63 geared to broaden personal outlook and develop professional studies, and individual assignments greater powers of thought and expression.