§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what independent evaluation has been made of PSNI training procedures; what criteria has been used to judge their effectiveness; and what plans are in place for future evaluation. [114145]
§ Jane KennedyOccupational Psychologists and the University of Ulster evaluate the training process for student officers. A range of organisations are engaged to evaluate programme delivery, for example, the Police Skills and Standards Organisation, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Mediation Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's Inspector of Training and the Learning Advisory Council. All of the above organisations are engaged on an ongoing basis.
Since the launch of the Student Officer Programme in November 2001, two external evaluations have been conducted. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission reviewed the Human Rights elements whilst Mediation Network looked at the police/ community relationships module.
Independent evaluation of 'Course for All' is currently being procured.
In addition, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary has evaluated training as part of the UK wide Diversity Review.
The PSNI has recently invited a number of organisations with a statutory interest in police training to meet and discuss how future evaluation can be co-ordinated and managed.
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§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were received for the new position of civilian director of training for the PSNI; how many applicants were interviewed and what the breakdown by perceived community of origin and gender; what equal opportunities monitoring procedures were undertaken as part of the recruitment process; and if he will place a copy of the job specification in the Library. [114146]
§ Jane Kennedy42 applications were received for the position of civilian director of training. 16 applicants attended the first interview stage, and six attended the second. The breakdown at the second stage interview was four male, two female/two Catholic, four non-Catholic.
The equal opportunities monitoring was carried out by the PSNF's Equal Opportunities Unit.
A copy of the job specification has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many external tutors and organisations are involved in the training of PSNI recruits and staff: what his estimate is of expenditure in this financial year; and if he will place the list of names and organisations in the Library. [114150]
§ Jane KennedyApproximately 91 external tutors and organisations are employed by the PSNI. Spend for the current financial year at 19 May is —114,250.
Not all external tutors and organisations would wish their details to be in the public domain and, therefore, the PSNI does not propose to provide a list for the Library.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tutors involved in the training of PSNI recruits and staff have been(a) suspended and (b) removed from their posts in the last two years. [114151]
§ Jane KennedyOne tutor has been temporarily transferred pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken to submit PSNI training procedures to public consultation. [114152]
§ Jane KennedyThe PSNI's training procedures result from the Service's Training, Education and Development Programme. The TED Programme was approved by the Northern Ireland Policing Board in March 2002.
During the Formulation of the TED Programme a number of organisations representing a broad spectrum of society were consulted.
There was also public consultation before the launch in November 2001 of the Student Officer training programme. The University of Ulster managed the public consultation for the PSNI and the University has established a Learning Advisory Council which will continue to gather public comment.
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§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken to ensure that community awareness training is developed and integrated into all aspects of PSNI training. [114153]
§ Jane KennedyMeasures are currently being developed to ensure that community awareness training is developed and integrated into all aspects of PSNI training. The Service is working with Mediation Northern Ireland in this area.
Attention was focused on community awareness in the designing of the Student Officer Programme.
The core themes of the Training, Education and Development Strategy, approved by the Northern Ireland Policing Board in April 2002, were diversity, equality and community policing.
The recent report of the Oversight Commissioner indicated that the PSNI had achieved administrative compliance with the relevant Patten recommendation (139).
The Policing Board is to review progress in this area toward the end of the year.