Police Probationer Training
Initial Police Learning & Development Programme
Until fairly recently one element of training, all new recruits would be expected to undertake was the 12 week residential training
at a Centrex training centre. This has now changed and all forces are now training new
officers (now known as Student Officers) using a scheme called the Initial Police Learning & Development Programme
(IPLDP).
This is a new training system where Student Officers receive more local based training from their own forces, this
helps forces train their officers more closely to the communities they will serve. This, for many forces is a non-residential
course meaning new recruits will not have to attend a residential course taking them away
from their families and friends, a major problem for many prospective applicants in the past
A new section of PoliceUK about this new system is in the pipeline. Until then please visit the PoliceUK Forum to discuss how training
is delivered in your force.
A timeline of the IPLDP rollout
October 2004:
Five Pilot forces (Cleveland, Kent, West Midlands, Metropolitan Police and North Wales) have adopted the new programme.
January 2005:
Several ‘early adopter forces’ including West Yorkshire and Lancashire adopted the IPLDP.
April 2005:
North East Region Forces start to implement the IPLDP.
Autumn 2005:
North West Region Forces start to implement the IPLDP.
April 2006:
National implementation of the IPLDP started. All remaining forces started to implement the new programme.
To discuss your forces training please visit the Forum
Confirmation of appointment
On your 2 year anniversary with the force you will, providing you have met all of the
standard criteria be confirmed in the position of Constable. After this date you will be
eligible for promotion or transfer to a specialist unit within the force.
The old system
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1 - You will spend a minimum of 2 weeks at your local forces
training unit (Normally based at Force Head Quarters). In your first week you will
be issued with your uniform and you will make your formal
declaration in the office
of Constable before a magistrate. You will receive a general introduction to the
force and visit the division and station where you will be posted |
| 2 - You will now spend 12 weeks at the National
Police Training Centre on a residential course (Forces have a number of training centres
in which to send recruits). Here you will learn many aspects
of police work including law, powers of arrest how to give evidence in court etc.
Upon completing Stage Two you will have a well-deserved one week annual leave before
beginning Stage Three. |
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3 - Back at your forces training centre
for two weeks where you will be given training on local procedures in preparation for
accompanied patrol. Training will include Self-defence tactics and the use of your forces
computer systems. |
| 4 - You are now let loose
onto the public. Spending the next ten weeks at your allocated division
working on a one to one basis with a trained Tutor Constable. You will now be able to put
into practice the skills, knowledge and abilities you have developed during stages one,
two and three. |
| 5 - Providing you are successfully
signed off for independent patrol it is back off to force training spending a further two weeks
in order to prepare you for independent patrol. |
| 6 - For the remainder of your two-year probationary period
now on independent patrol, your progress will be monitored closely at division. You will
continue to develop and build on skills and knowledge. |
