DIRECT ENTRY FOR EXTERNAL CANDIDATES INTO SENIOR POLICE GRADES

That this House commends the British police force as the best in the world for its professionalism and commitment; recognises that this is due in no small part to the experience senior officers have gained through working their way up through the policing system including spending time on the beat and interacting with different people in different situations; is concerned by the Government's plans to allow direct entry for external candidates, such as business executives and overseas police officers, without any previous experience of the British police force, into senior levels of the police force; believes such a lack of knowledge of the British policing system will ill-equip them for the many complex situations they will face; and calls on the Government to re-consider this plan and give more support, opportunities and resources to current police officers in England and Wales who hope to join senior ranks within the service.