Police Officer promotions

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.039029

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. What specific tasks must a special constable complete in order to gain Independent Patrol Status (IPS)?
2. How does the process work when an a special transitions to becoming a paid officer?
3. When a paid constable applies to become a sergeant, what needs to be done in order to get promoted?
4. When a paid constable applies to become an inspector, what needs to be done in order to get promoted?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 21 – Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means

Reason for decision

With regards to questions 3 & 4 where you have asked us to disclose what is required in order to be promoted to (a) a sergeant and (b) an inspector, from a paid constable, this information is already in the public domain. Please find a link to published information below:

College of Policing - Steps to becoming a Sergeant or Inspector.

This information is widely accessible in the public domain and Section 21(1) - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means, of the Act, which provides an exemption for information reasonably accessible by other means has therefore been applied.

The information requested has been identified as being accessible via other means as it is already published. Where information is already in the public domain we are not required to re-publish the data; instead public authorities are required to direct you to the information, which we have done in this instance. Section 21 absolute exemption which means there is no requirement to carry out a public interest test.

Disclosure

Q1 - What specific tasks must a special constable complete in order to gain Independent Patrol Status (IPS)?

Once students have completed Foundation Training, they are posted to one of the METs 12 Basic Command Units (BCU) where they will be issued a Police Action Checklist (PAC) which needs to be completed within the maximum of 24 months from completing their foundation training.

Contained within the PAC are a number of Student Officer Records of Competence.
(SOROCS). The SOROCS can only be signed off once the Special Constable has demonstrated competence with each task and the method of recording the SOROCs is the responsibility of the local BCU.

Once all of the tasks and SOROCS have been satisfactorily recorded and completed and the relevant Performance Development Reviews (PDU)s have been processed, a Special Inspector may recommend to the Special Chief Inspector that the officer be granted IPS.

Q2 - How does the process work when an a special transitions to becoming a paid officer?

Special constables apply to the regular PC application process and follow the standard process as would any other external applicant. IPS may be taken into account as part of academic qualifications.

The standard application and recruitment process is published on our website and can be accessed via the link below:

MPS -Application and recruitment process