England Police Officers To Get Work License Or Face Dismissal

Every police officer in England and Wales will be required to hold a license to be able to continue working, the Home Office has said, according to the BBC.

They will have to prove they have the right skills in issues such as tackling violence against women and girls or face being removed from their job, under the terms of a phased scheme similar to ones for lawyers or doctors.

Some senior figures in policing fear the scheme will be “expensive” and “time consuming,” and could undermine vetting processes already in place.

Under separate proposals announced on Friday, ministers will be granted new powers to dismiss chief constables and intervene in forces deemed to be failing.

The plans are part of a raft of reforms expected from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who is promising to oversee the biggest shake-up of policing in decades.

Officers will have to renew what the Home Office calls a ‘license to practice’ throughout their career by keeping up to date with latest methods and guidance. Training will be rolled out in phases.

The aim is that the new standardised programme will be clearer to follow across all 43 police forces in England and Wales.

“Every police officer needs to remain match fit to protect their communities. As crime evolves, we expect police to evolve more quickly”, Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said.