Education and the police professionalisation agenda: a perspective from England and Wales

This chapter provides selective commentary on the developments of police learning and education from 1945 to the present time. It describes the role of police services in providing skills and knowledge for officers while commenting on the changes to police practice, and the gradual move to outside providers. The engagement between universities and police services in providing education for officers is described and the different approaches adopted are discussed. The professionalisation agenda provides the framework for considering the initiatives involving graduates, police services and universities introduced by the College of Policing.

Finally, the chapter discusses the recent consultation around higher education accreditation and recognition for police officers and the various considerations in relation to serving officers and future recruits.