Police Education

Introducing higher education routes into policing has raised controversy in recent years (Brown, 2018, Simmel-Binning and Tower 2017). Many argue that having educated officers particularly given the complexity of the role they now engage in is a necessity (NPCC 2016). Research also suggests in can increase public satisfaction and reduce complaints, increase cultural diversity, reduce the use of force and enhance legitimacy (Brown, 2018; Paoline and Terrill, 2015; Paterson, 2011). This chapter will discuss the role of education and development in ensuring police officers have the relevant skills to do their job, including initial training routes and continuous professional development. It will outline what ‘good' looks like and why forces need to adapt their approaches and invest more in their people.