Changes to police leadership: the legitimisation and the challenges of direct entry

Book chapter


Williams, E. and Scott, S. 2019. Changes to police leadership: the legitimisation and the challenges of direct entry. in: Ramshaw, P., Silvestri, M. and Simpson, M. (ed.) Police Leadership: Changing Landscapes Palgrave Macmillan.
AuthorsWilliams, E. and Scott, S.
EditorsRamshaw, P., Silvestri, M. and Simpson, M.
Abstract

Tradition and culture have long been key in regards to role, structure, and career progression within the historical and contemporary Police Service in England and Wales. Of late however, societal and political changes, along with media and public scrutiny over the last five decades, have impacted upon policing and the way in which the Police Service is ran, increasing emphasis upon accountability as an everyday expectation.

One of the biggest ‘shake ups’ to the service in recent times, is the emergence of Direct Entry. Direct entry refers to a person(s) previously working in a civilian role, not necessarily linked or having knowledge of policing, entering the Police Service at Inspector or Superintendent level. The College of Policing, the professional body for policing in England and Wales, have recruited candidates from many diverse career paths, including law, the banking sector, insurance, and the retail industry. Whilst senior officer entry is standard practice within other uniformed organisations, such as the armed forces, it has never been the case for policing, with all recruits previously making their way through the ranks from Police Constable upwards. This change in tradition has been met with much scepticism from the general public, serving police officers, and other key stakeholders.

This chapter explores the thinking behind this controversial move and considers the advantages and drawbacks of a civilian entering the service as a mid-ranking or superordinate police leader. The chapter will look at the reasoning behind direct entry, the current status, training provision, and the longer-term vision of the Police Service.

Year2019
Book titlePolice Leadership: Changing Landscapes
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Output statusPublished
ISBN9783030214685
Publication dates
Print24 Aug 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited05 Mar 2019
Accepted24 Feb 2019
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88yxy/changes-to-police-leadership-the-legitimisation-and-the-challenges-of-direct-entry

  • 263
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

‘Holding onto trauma?’ The prevalence and predictors of PTSD, anxiety, and depression in police officers working with victims of child abuse, rape, and sexual exploitation
Foley, J., Jones, F., Hassett, A. and Williams, E. 2023. ‘Holding onto trauma?’ The prevalence and predictors of PTSD, anxiety, and depression in police officers working with victims of child abuse, rape, and sexual exploitation. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X231183638
‘Getting on with the job’: A systematised literature review of secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in policing within the United Kingdom (UK)
Foley, J., Hassett, Alex and Williams, Emma 2021. ‘Getting on with the job’: A systematised literature review of secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in policing within the United Kingdom (UK). The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. 95 (1), pp. 224-252. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258x21990412
Policing vulnerability: attrition, rape and domestic violence
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Barrow-Grint, K. 2020. Policing vulnerability: attrition, rape and domestic violence. in: Pepper, I.K. and McGrath, R. (ed.) Introduction to Professional Policing: Examining the Evidence Base London Routledge.
Direct Entry: Fairness, resilience and the impact on regular cops
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Boag-Munroe, F. 2020. Direct Entry: Fairness, resilience and the impact on regular cops. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. 64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2020.100442
Policing and mental health: do we really get it?
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Brown, M. 2019. Policing and mental health: do we really get it? in: Policing and Mental Health Routledge.
The police education qualification framework: a professional agenda or building professionals?
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Rowe, M. 2019. The police education qualification framework: a professional agenda or building professionals? Police Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2019.1598070
Understanding risks: practitioner’s perceptions of the lottery of mental health care available for detainees in custody
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Sondhi, A. 2017. Understanding risks: practitioner’s perceptions of the lottery of mental health care available for detainees in custody. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/pax067
Patient perspectives of being detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act: findings from a qualitative study in London
Sondhi, A., luger, L., Toleikyte, L. and Williams, E. 2018. Patient perspectives of being detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act: findings from a qualitative study in London. Medicine, Science and the Law. 58 (3), pp. 159-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0025802418774966
Putting learning into practice: self-reflections from cops
Norman, J. and Williams, E. 2017. Putting learning into practice: self-reflections from cops. European Police Science and Research Bulletin - Special Conference Edition.
Violence against women: public health or law enforcement problem or both?
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Nixon, K. 2018. Violence against women: public health or law enforcement problem or both? International Journal of Police Science and Management. 20 (3), pp. 196-206. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355718793666
Knowledge wars: professionalisation, organisational justice and competing knowledge paradigms in British Policing
Williams, E. 2018. Knowledge wars: professionalisation, organisational justice and competing knowledge paradigms in British Policing. in: Huey, L. and Mitchell, R. (ed.) Evidence-Based Policing: An Introduction Policy Press.
Health needs and co-morbidity among detainees in contact with healthcare professionals within police custody across the London Metropolitan Police Service area
Sondhi, A. and Williams, E. 2017. Health needs and co-morbidity among detainees in contact with healthcare professionals within police custody across the London Metropolitan Police Service area. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 57, pp. 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2017.07.012
A new canteen culture: the potential to use social media as evidence in policing
Williams, E. and Hesketh, I. 2017. A new canteen culture: the potential to use social media as evidence in policing. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. 11 (3), pp. 346-355. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/pax025
Mediating serious crime: an analysis of victim and prisoner mediation
Tong, S., Waters, B., Bryant, R., Williams, E. and Norman, J. 2017. Mediating serious crime: an analysis of victim and prisoner mediation.
Researching sexual violence
Williams, E. and Stanko, B. 2016. Researching sexual violence. in: Brunger, M., Tong, S. and Martin, D. (ed.) Policing Research: Taking Lessons from Practice Routledge.
The politics of establishing reflexivity as a core component of good policing
Wood, D. and Williams, E. 2016. The politics of establishing reflexivity as a core component of good policing. in: Armstrong, S., Blaustein, J. and Henry, A. (ed.) Reflexivity and Criminal Justice. Intersections of Policy, Practice and Research London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 215-236
Mediating serious crime: an analysis of adult prison restorative justice mediation
Bryant, R., Tong, S., Waters, B., Williams, E. and Norman, J. 2014. Mediating serious crime: an analysis of adult prison restorative justice mediation. London Nuffield Foundation.
Critical issues in rape investigation: a UK perspective
Tong, S., Horvath, M. and Williams, E. 2011. Critical issues in rape investigation: a UK perspective. The Journal of Criminal Justice Research. 1 (2), pp. 1-18.
Three BOCU Improving Confidence Report
Williams, E. 2010. Three BOCU Improving Confidence Report. London Metropolitan Police Service.
Preliminary well being report into sickness and absenteeism within women officers and staff
Williams, E. and Jacobs, S. 2010. Preliminary well being report into sickness and absenteeism within women officers and staff.
Reviewing rape and rape allegations in London: what are the vulnerabilities of the victims who report to the police?
Williams, E. and Stanko, B. 2009. Reviewing rape and rape allegations in London: what are the vulnerabilities of the victims who report to the police? in: Horvath, M. and Brown, J. (ed.) Rape: Challenging Contemporary Thinking Cullompton Willan. pp. 207-228
Reflections from a Police Research Unit: an inside job
Dawson, P. and Williams, E. 2009. Reflections from a Police Research Unit: an inside job. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. 3 (4), pp. 373-380. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/pap043
Too little too late: assessing vulnerability
Williams, E., Norman, J. and Wünsch, D. 2009. Too little too late: assessing vulnerability. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. 3 (4), pp. 355-363. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/pap042