Are we training the future police leadership we need?
The Department of Organizational Psychology has partnered with Police Now to evaluate the impact of their National Graduate Leadership Programme, now in its seventh year.
Researchers in Birkbeck’s Department of Organizational Psychology are partnering with Police Now to evaluate the impact of their National Graduate Leadership Programme, with a focus on their 2021-2023 cohort.
As communities change, a successful police service adapts and develops to reflect the society it serves. Police Now aims to transform communities by recruiting, developing and inspiring diverse leaders in policing.
The National Graduate Leadership Programme is a two-year programme which trains and develops graduates to become leaders in neighbourhood policing. Participants are placed in some of the most deprived communities in England and Wales, getting to know the issues up close and developing innovative ideas and techniques to tackle the challenges residents are facing.
Dr Liam Fenn, Head of Strategy and Insights at Police Now said: “Policing Training has undergone radical reform in the UK, as a graduate route is now required. But what do Police Now graduates bring to policing in terms of a more diverse ‘officer profile’? How does their emotional intelligence develop over time to make a contribution to their local area? What impact are Police Now graduates having within local communities and policing, and how does this compare to other more traditional training routes?” In a project funded by Police Now with firm commitment to furthering evidence based practice with additional funding from EBW Global, the team of Birkbeck researchers and Police Now will look to answer these crucial questions.
Professor Almuth McDowall, Head of Birkbeck’s Department of Organizational Psychology, said: “The last year has shown that change is the only constant in our modern world. We need police officers who not only adapt readily, but also champion change and do this with emotional intelligence. We are looking forward to our research partnership with Police Now and thank EBW Global for providing vital resource.”
Stephen Walker, Senior Partner at EBW Global said: “The opportunity to understand the drivers behind successful police officers and hopefully support the development of future police leaders is a great investment, not only in our understanding but hopefully in the society we all live in.”