The NPIA published a national PDR system, PDR- Making it Count in April 2011. This model and NPIA circular 04/2011 has replaced Home Office Circular 14/2003. Links to the reference document, PDR template and supporting material are available via the links in the sidebar. The documents are also accessible via the People in Policing Community on POLKA.  

The PDR model is based on an Assumption of Competence in that it recognises that the 'majority' of staff, once trained and experienced, usually performs their role to a high standard.  It also supports the Professional Policing Framework (PPF) role profile and personal qualities criteria by which performance can be assessed.

Within this majority, individuals need provide only minimal evidence around objectives and areas of development as the line manager determines competency primarily based on their observation of the individual in the workplace. For most staff, PDR completion time is reduced to 2 hours which, if adopted by all forces, would equate to a cost/time saving of 1.5 million hours.

Staff outside of this majority (New to role, excelling performers, low performers and planned career development) will provide a greater level of documented evidence with less emphasis on line manager observation. The balance between documentary and observational evidence is agreed in formal meetings throughout the PDR year. As the development needs are greater within these groups the completion time is also greater and dependent on individual circumstances.

The NPIA model is not mandated as this provides Chief Officers opportunity to reflect local policing requirements, but forces will be asked to review their own PDR processes to ensure they are more developmental than review based, and that bureaucracy is reduced as far as possible. The model is also strongly supported in Winsor Review with an observation that it be considered by forces changing or implementing a new PDR.

Questions on the Assumption of Competence model should be directed to George Couch, Senior Policy Advisor on 020 3113 7398 or george.couch@npia.pnn.police.uk.

Useful related weblink: Skills for Justice website.