§ 9. Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)What steps he is taking to improve the strategic management capacity of police forces. [44251]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alun Michael)Since 1992, all applicants for appointment in the most senior police ranks must have attended the strategic command course at the police staff college, which is intended to develop and enhance senior officers' 13 capacity to exercise strategic management and leadership. We are considering how best to promote continued training and development for those who achieve Association of Chief Police Officers ranks.
§ Mr. SheermanDoes my hon. Friend agree that the training of senior managers in the police force tends to be exclusive and inward-looking, and that good management is good management? Is not it about time that we started to expose senior police officers to the best management schools in the world, if not in the country, because strategic management is strategic management?
§ Mr. MichaelMy hon. Friend makes a good point. Some senior officers have gone to great lengths to expand their own training and experience, and to look at the quality of management developed outside the police service, while others have not. My right hon. Friend and I, with officials and ACPO, are looking at how we can develop the quality of training. As I said in my first reply, we are considering how to encourage and improve continued training and development once officers achieve ACPO rank.