01/02/13….Views of politicians & journalists ‘don’t matter’ says Police chief

THE publication on Wednesday of the Government’s consultation on direct entry to the police service, has been severely challenged by Thames Valley Police Chief Constable, Sara Thornton.

In her monthly update, published on the force’s website, Ms Thornton questions the Government’s apparent lack of knowledge that 40% of her force’s staff are already not sworn officers, and reveals that many officers feel very undervalued and unsupported.

On the Government’s proposal for direct entry to Superintendent, Ms Thornton said: “It a bad idea and I have said so openly over the last few years. I believe that commanding police units requires professional expertise which cannot be learned in 15 months and that the risk of putting in a novice to run a Local Police Area or complex investigations is just too great.

“Over the years those posts which do not require police professional expertise have been civilianised ? we used to have a Chief Superintendent in Human Resources, ICT and Learning and Development. We did not need police professional expertise in those roles and we opened them up to a broader range of applicants. Therefore any Superintendent role that remains does so because my professional judgement is that it requires police professional expertise. I think that the plan is for chiefs to decide whether they recruit direct entry Superintendents. If it is my choice then we will not in Thames Valley Police.”

You can read Sara Thornton’s full report HERE

PHOTO: Copyright https://www.thame.net – Sara Thornton with PC Russell Hounslow, on a visit to Thame police station