Aspiring Chiefs ‘Face Stiff Competition’

ACPO President warns that aspiring chief officers will face battle for promotion.

Current and aspiring ACPO officers will face stiff competition for jobs in the coming weeks as police and crime commissioners move to fill vacant senior posts.

Speaking as the latest Strategic Command Course began at the college of police leadership at Bramshill, Hampshire, Sir Hugh Orde said that while there were several roles available, there was a plethora of talent moving through the ranks.

He also asserted that reports of a crisis in police leadership were unfounded, and those moving into commanding posts are well equipped for the rigours they will face.

“For most of the jobs there is going to be some serious competition – the current pool of talent that exists in the Police Service is substantial”

Sir Hugh told a conference organised by the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee: “Last week saw the beginning of the new Strategic Command Course, which will see the training of our future leaders.

“They will be the next generation working with communities to fight crime.”

The ACPO President told conference delegates from across the international law enforcement spectrum: “There is no crisis in police leadership.

“Police and crime commissioners are now in place and new chief constables are being selected. But for most of the jobs there is going to be some serious competition –the current pool of talent that exists in the Police Service is substantial.”

Sir Hugh went on to point out that senior leadership teams would face immediate and tough challenges in their role as they squared up to managing in austerity.

He described the current situation as “extremely difficult” and would significantly test ACPO officers as they grappled with tough challenges ahead.

During his speech, at Portcullis House in Westminster, Sir Hugh also asserted that the overwhelming majority of officers were providing strong service – and the show of support that following the deaths of GMP PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes showed the esteem in which the public held them.

He said that ACPO fully supported the weeding out of any corrupt officers, but that the majority of the 130,000 officers were behaving with great intregrity.

Aspiring Chiefs ‘Face Stiff Competition’

Chief Superintendent Gavin Stevens, Surrey Police has just started on the above Strategic Command Course formerly Senior Command course