Direct Entry into the Police Service

Abstract

The recent decision of the coalition government to follow through on the Winsor Report's recommendations regarding direct entry into the police service in England and Wales cannot be a matter for surprise. Early on, in discussions about Sir Paul Stephenson's successor as Metropolitan Commissioner, it quickly became apparent that the Prime Minister's personal preference would have been to recruit Bill Bratton, former Chief of the NYPD and LAPD, for the job. Under existing regulations, that option was not possible. The government has therefore sought to introduce legislation that will allow it to throw open future appointments at chief officer rank to qualified police officers working abroad in common law jurisdictions.