1.   The introduction of pre join development opportunities - prior to recruitment and training to become a warranted police constable - is attracting considerable interest from police forces in England and Wales. This Guidance on the endorsement of pre join opportunities has been developed by the Central Authority for the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme

2.   The Central Authority is the governing body for the Initial Policing Learning Programmes and, working through the NPIA and Skills for Justice, has the responsibility to:

• Set and provide access to the Initial Policing Curriculum including that part of the Curriculum which is suitable for pre join achievement
• Recommend and monitor the National Minimum Qualification for Police Officers
• Set the Regulatory Framework for delivery of the curriculum and the minimum qualification
• Examine suitable models for achievement of the curriculum and the minimum qualification both pre and post recruitment 
• Assure quality in the delivery of initial learning and development
• Approve arrangements to manage the intellectual property of the police service and its agencies

3.   Pre Join Schemes are recommended to police forces by the Central Authority for Initial Training as they are able to support:

• Encouragement of potential police recruits to take responsibility for their learning and development
• Widening participation and increasing professionalism
• Engagement of higher and further education in police training
• Reducing the cost of police training to the public purse

4.  Principles

Pre Join courses which are endorsed by the Central Authority will be required to comply with the following principles

Principle 1.  All candidates completing a Pre Join Course will be required to continue to complete the Diploma in Policing.

Principle 2.  To achieve Independent Patrol and complete the Diploma in Policing the candidate must be a warranted officer.

Principle 3.  Pre Join Courses which meet the requirements of the police service must meet the Pre Join Curriculum of the IPLDP and the Diploma in Policing Studies

Principle 4.  Pre Join Courses should be accredited as recognised qualifications on the Qualifications Credit Framework to enable APEL and transferability

Principle 5.  The currency of a Pre Join Course will normally be two years where the candidate has continuing operational experience in a policing environment. In all other instances currency will normally be 12 months.

5. Current Models

Pre Join Opportunities may be in HE, FE or providers working with an Awarding Body and must provide

• Opportunities for individuals to complete learning  from the initial police learning curriculum, accredited towards the IPLDP/Diploma prior to recruitment as a student police officer

• Opportunities for individuals to complete learning and work based assessment (currently as Special Constables) from the initial police learning curriculum accredited towards the Diploma prior to recruitment as a student police officer

• Vocational Awards aligned to the Diploma (currently PCSO award)

Presently the Central Authority is not in a position to formally "endorse" any pre join arrangements pending greater certainty about the future direction of pre join training.

The NPIA on behalf of the Central Authority will be pleased to review pre join courses and schemes and to provide an informed response to providers.  In the first instance contact should be made to Helen Schofield Head of Learning Strategy NPIA - Helen.Schofield@npia.pnn.police.uk

For further information click on the download links to the right of the screen.