Initial Police Learning and Development

Introduction

As a new recruit to Northumbria Police or Durham Constabulary you, the ‘Student Officer’ are required to successfully complete the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP). A 2 year programme of learning and development, to equip you to perform the demanding role of a police officer.

IPLDP has the desired outcomes of:

• A coherent approach to career long development
• The development of police officers competent in the performance of key tasks and the exercise of independent judgement
• The support of Student Officers by experienced staff and their introduction to operational duties in a controlled and structured manner
• The majority of learning taking place within the operational working environment
• Rigorous assessment linked to formal accreditation. Student Officers from Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary are required to achieve NVQ Level 4 in Policing
• Early experience of the community in which the Student Officer will be working and the community issues within which they may be involved and influence

Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary collaborate in the delivery of the IPLDP and that collaboration is known as the North East Centre for Policing Skills (NECPS).

The training at NECPS is non-residential although some accommodation is available for those with an excessive distance to travel or circumstances where travel is difficult.

The Phases of the IPLDP

The 2 year IPLDP consists of 4 phases.

Phase 1 Induction
This 3 week Phase is a 2 day induction to your respective Force followed by training delivered at the NECPS premises at Durham. During this time Student Officers undertake conflict resolution and personal safety training, first aid training, Airwaves radio training and preparation for Phase 2.

Phase 2 Community
This 3 week Phase enables you to gain knowledge of your obligations in respect of Diversity, Freedom of Information and Data Protection. It also gives an opportunity for direct engagement with community groups, including hard to reach groups, and the police officers and policing strategies in the area in which you will be working. Some of the training is based at the NECPS and some within operational policing areas.

You are also introduced to the assessment process that’s documents your development and the developmental evidence you are required to collect and present.

Phase 3 Classroom and Tutor Phase
This Phase is 23 weeks in total. It consists of 13 weeks classroom delivery of law and procedure, dealing with supervised simulated incidents (often in a public environment) and 10 weeks operational patrol, accompanied by experienced and specially trained police officers.

Although total times within this Phase are the same for both Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary they are sequenced differently to reflect the different requirements of each Force.

Phase 4 Independent Patrol
Successful completion and assessment of Phases 1, 2 and 3 will enable you to achieve the status of ‘independent patrol’.

At this point you have proved that your knowledge, experience and critical judgement enables you to deal with most of the more common policing incidents and to realise when advice or assistance is required.

You are still being continually assessed and although the majority of your learning is now work based there will still be the requirement for some formal classroom input and attachment to specialist departments.

The Phase lasts for 18 months during which you are required to prove competence against 22 national Occupational Standards and achieve NVQ Level 4 in Policing.

The Phase concludes with your confirmation of appointment as a Police Constable

COURSE DETAILS
The table below shows you how the training course is broken down into the different phases and where they will be completed. The total timescale for the training programme prior to independent patrol is 31 weeks, The training programmes for Northumbria and Durham differ slightly in order to accommodate the different needs of the organisations. The programmes will be managed in order that no one is disadvantaged by the different phases and collaborative learning is maximised to full potential.

NORTHUMBRIA

• 3 Weeks Induction classroom based (First two days 'in force')
• 2 Weeks Community Phase (Command Unit)
• 11 Weeks Classroom based
• 1 Week Annual Leave
• 10 Weeks Tutor (Command Unit)
• 2 Weeks Classroom Based 2 Weeks Classroom Based
• 1 Week Annual Leave

DURHAM

• 3 Weeks Induction classroom based (First two days 'in force')
• 2 Weeks Community Phase (Command Unit)
• 6 Weeks Classroom based
• 1 Week Annual Leave
• 5 Weeks Tutor (Command Unit)
• 5 Weeks Classroom Based
• 5 Weeks Tutor (Command Unit)
• 1 Week Annual Leave

Please note that on certain courses the one-week’s annual leave may be incorporated into other periods such as the Christmas holidays.

For the classroom based phase (other than the first two days where Northumbria officers will be at Ponteland) you will be based at Durham Police Headquarters where, in addition to law training, you will receive training in first aid, self defence and public order tactics. You will also carry out practical/role play activities.

A substantial amount of the public order, self defense and fitness training is carried out in the 3 weeks induction period of the programme. It is therefore crucial that you maintain a high level of fitness following on from the recruiting process and in preparation for your course.