Abstract
Police training has been the subject of constant review and change, typically predicated on events which significantly impact on national confidence in policing. The latest review of this kind, Neyroud (2011) is critical of both leadership and police training and called for professionalisation of the police service, this recommendation led to the introduction of the Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) in England and Wales.Drawing on and contributing to the theoretical framework of professionalisation of the police, this thesis critically examines the relationship between the implementation of the PEQF and professionalisation of the police service. In doing so it answers the question, ‘to what extent, if any, does the Police Education Qualifications Framework provide a platform on which to build a professionalised police service?’
Utilising a qualitative methodology, the extant literature from a broad range of studies and primary and secondary data are considered. Analysis of data from semi-structured interviews facilitated the exploration of perceptions of participants as to the relationship between the PEQF and professionalisation of the police service.
Through analysis of the data the thesis identifies four key themes, the PEQF: a new future, professionalisation, education: a paradigm shift and challenges and opportunities for implementation. Informed by these findings the thesis concludes, the PEQF provides a platform for change for the police and heralds a paradigm shift for police training. Embedding the PEQF provides opportunity for the police service to create a new identity as a graduate profession, however implementation of the PEQF remains the challenge.
| Date of Award | Dec 2020 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Sarah Charman (Supervisor) & Steve Savage (Supervisor) |