§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last independent review of police training procedures was conducted; and what plans he has to instigate another review. [45644]
§ Mr. MichaelMinisters are currently giving active consideration to the best way of improving the quality and comprehensiveness of police training. There has been no fully independent review specifically of police training in recent years. The report by Lord Scarman on the Brixton disorders in 1981 made a number of important recommendations relating to police training and there have also been a number of internal or partly independent reviews since then. A series of reviews led to the creation of National Police Training (NPT) in 1993. A strategic review of NPT began in 1997 and is expected to be completed later this year. A review of probationer training was carried out between 1994–95. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary is carrying out a thematic inspection of police training, which is expected to be completed early in 1999.