Met Police commissioner to play key role in fast-track scheme
30 May 2014
The Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is to play a key role in recruiting superintendents, as entries close for the Met’s radical fast-track scheme.
Fri, 30 May 2014
The Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is to play a key role in recruiting superintendents, as entries close for the Met’s radical fast-track scheme.
Among several departures from tradition, Hogan-Howe will be directly involved in the recruitment process by interviewing shortlisted candidates.
Under the direct-entry scheme, for the first time candidates other than serving police officers can become superintendents. Until now, the established route has been for police officers to join as constables and progress through the ranks.
With entries closing today, a spokesperson for the Met says that more than 500 people have registered their interest in joining.
Among those who have registered their interest for just five to 10 places are businessmen, teachers and charity workers.
A spokesperson tells Recruiter that on Monday, applicants will be asked to complete an online assessment. Successful applicants will then be interviewed over Skype, she says.
This process will followed by a three-day assessment, with shortlisted candidates going on to be interviewed by Hogan-Howe.
The spokesperson says that for the commissioner to get involved in recruitment at this level is unprecedented. “We have never done this before – that is his buy-in into it. It will be good for candidates as he will be able to explain to them the strategic direction [of the organisation]. It shows he wants to be involved.”
Taking into account the candidates’ diverse professional backgrounds, the necessary policing knowledge and the skills to be added to help the applicants become effective police leaders, and it is anticipated that they will take up post in November 2014.
They will then undergo 18 months of training tailored to their personal development needs, but also learning to simulate real-life police operations, and on-the-job learning with supportive supervision.
Hogan-Howe says: "I believe this first cadre of direct-entry superintendents will help us transform the Met for the better.”
Among several departures from tradition, Hogan-Howe will be directly involved in the recruitment process by interviewing shortlisted candidates.
Under the direct-entry scheme, for the first time candidates other than serving police officers can become superintendents. Until now, the established route has been for police officers to join as constables and progress through the ranks.
With entries closing today, a spokesperson for the Met says that more than 500 people have registered their interest in joining.
Among those who have registered their interest for just five to 10 places are businessmen, teachers and charity workers.
A spokesperson tells Recruiter that on Monday, applicants will be asked to complete an online assessment. Successful applicants will then be interviewed over Skype, she says.
This process will followed by a three-day assessment, with shortlisted candidates going on to be interviewed by Hogan-Howe.
The spokesperson says that for the commissioner to get involved in recruitment at this level is unprecedented. “We have never done this before – that is his buy-in into it. It will be good for candidates as he will be able to explain to them the strategic direction [of the organisation]. It shows he wants to be involved.”
Taking into account the candidates’ diverse professional backgrounds, the necessary policing knowledge and the skills to be added to help the applicants become effective police leaders, and it is anticipated that they will take up post in November 2014.
They will then undergo 18 months of training tailored to their personal development needs, but also learning to simulate real-life police operations, and on-the-job learning with supportive supervision.
Hogan-Howe says: "I believe this first cadre of direct-entry superintendents will help us transform the Met for the better.”
