§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the minimum time period for elementary training of a police recruit before he or she is permitted to take part in a street patrol. [30454]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 29 January 2002]: Police recruits undertake supervised street patrol with a tutor constable on completion of their initial training, normally after 20 weeks' service and follows their foundation training course (15 weeks at National Police Training, and 18 weeks at Hendon for the Metropolitan police). This training equips recruits with the knowledge and skills to perform the full range of police duties, and is consolidated through further training in force during the remainder of the probationary period of two years. Most recruits are considered ready for unsupervised street patrol after 32 weeks' service.