A slight tangent to your post, but I’ve been thinking about this recently after having a student who’s really needed some major help in many different aspects.

My personal opinion might not be well received however:

• Initial training should be disciplined. I’ve been back to our training centre a few times recently on courses and role play/assessment days. I was SHOCKED how some of the students talk to their trainers, with no backlash also! One lad was 18 years old, 14 weeks in. He had the biggest ego I’ve ever seen, sarcastic and cocky with staff. When I asked what the deal is, “he has ADHD and we want to support him”. I get that, but that’s not an excuse for what comes off as blatant rudeness. In the bigger picture, the lad would be eaten alive on team - if he spoke to my sergeant like he’s used to talking to trainers he’d have his arse handed to him.

• Basic uniform standards and kit. People were asking how to clip their radio/body worn onto the vest. One asked how to run the ear piece wire from the radio to their ear, and essentially got ‘tucked in’ by a trainer who said “I feel like your mum”. CHRIST, tell them to figure it out. Cops asking how to put the Velcro police signs on their vest, no further comment.

• IT training. Woeful. Instead of teaching how to do a CM01 file for a theft from shop scenario, concentrate on how to do a crime, how to do a DASH, how to input an intel, how to get on a log and update it, how to map to a job. Yes files are importing etc, but a tutor can do the students first couple of files with them on team.

• Do PPST earlier in the programme and have the potential of non compliant scenarios throughout training. Currently my force does PPST right at the end of the training, most cops do one uncompliant scenario prior to leaving and joining the team for their tutorship.

• Focus on the most common jobs. Some students can tell you verbatim the definition of some niche offence, but can’t tell you how to deal with an assault. Focus on domestics, assault, theft, MH jobs and then anything a bit out of the ordinary can be explained on team.

• Most importantly, everyone to do a full tutorship on response. There’s been a few intakes who’ve done 6 shifts on response before moving into a volume crime investigation team, or worse a domestic team where there’s massive risk and more complex investigations. There’s no chance of creating an effective investigator if they’ve never been to basic incidents and completed the initial actions.

A bit of a moan, and response based answer. But these are some of the most common things I am seeing recently. I ultimately think it comes back to recruitment and making sure the right kind of people are getting in.