NCJ Number
58478
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 1-5
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
MANY RELEVANT TECHNIQUES CAN BE LEARNED FROM A COURSE IN MANAGEMENT TRAINING GIVEN BY THE BRITISH POLICE COLLEGE.
Abstract
BRITISH OFFICERS ARE SELECTED FOR A SENIOR COMMAND COURSE AFTER CAREFUL SCREENING. ALTHOUGH THE COURSE IS GEARED TO THE NEEDS OF THE BRITISH OFFICER, IT IS OF BENEFIT TO THE AMERICAN COUNTERPART BECAUSE BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS WITH THE SAME COMMON LAW ROOTS. AS A RESULT, SOCIETAL, OPERATIONAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS FACING THE BRITISH MANAGER ARE MUCH LIKE THOSE FACING POLICE MANAGERS IN AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES HAVING SIMILAR POPULATION DENSITIES AND ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS. A BASIC TENET OF BRITISH POLICE SERVICE IS THAT POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE IDENTITY WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, TO BE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO DIFFER FROM FELLOW CITIZENS ONLY IN THAT THEY WEAR UNIFORMS. SEVEN THEMES ARE COVERED DURING THE SENIOR COMMAND COURSE: COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES; POLICE POWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY; SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL AIDS; FINANCE, BUDGETING AND GOVERNMENT; RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS OF COMMAND; POLICE ORGANIZATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATIONS; AND PRIVATE STUDY AND RESEARCH. METHODS INCLUDE LECTURES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, DISCUSSIONS, PRACTICAL EXERCISES, AND PERIODS OF PRIVATE RESEARCH AND STUDY. SYNDICATE DISCUSSIONS ALSO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING STAFF ADVISORS TO ASSESS THE ABILITIES, PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THE MEMBERS. MANAGEMENT THEORY AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL ISSUES WERE FREQUENT TOPICS OF SYNDICATE DISCUSSION. COURSE MEMBERS TAKE PART IN TWO MANAGEMENT FIELD EXERCISES IN WHICH THEY STUDY REAL PROBLEMS WITHIN POLICE FORCES THROUGHOUT ENGLAND. THE COURSE ALSO ADDRESSES PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO PROBLEMS SUCH AS TERRORISM AND MOB VIOLENCE. AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE COURSE IS THE PRIVATE RESEARCH AND STUDY THEME WHICH ALLOWS THE STUDENT TO THINK ABOUT IDEAS PRESENTED FORMALLY IN THE LECTURES. THE SENIOR COMMAND COURSE IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT IT DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON A SHARING OF EXPERIENCES BY PARTICIPANTS, BUT ALSO TAPS NONLAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES AND CONCENTRATES ON THE STUDY OF REAL PROBLEMS. (STB)