Last month, Police Now launched The Frontline Leadership Programme (FLP) for the very first cohort of participants. The new programme is a one-year development programme which prepares and supports high-performing police constables seeking promotion to sergeant.

Whilst the pilot cohort was only available for Police Now alumni, applications have opened today (Monday 18^th October 2021) for all police constables seeking promotion in forces across England and Wales.

The programme directly addresses the shortage of sergeants predicted by 2024 and supports talented police officers from all backgrounds and career routes. It aims to increase diversity and representation in senior operational ranks, by paying particular attention to the barriers often faced by officers from underrepresented groups when going for promotion.

On Wednesday 29^th September 2021, the first cohort of 20 talented Police Now alumni attended the first taught day of the programme in Birmingham. The participants have all graduated from either the National Graduate Leadership Programme or the National Detective Programme and come from a number of forces including Avon and Somerset, Humberside, Surrey, Sussex and West Midlands.

Following the first taught day, PC Nilufar Ali of West Midlands Police, said: “I attended the first taught day of the Police Now Frontline Leadership Programme earlier this week and it’s so exciting to be part of the first cohort to take this journey. What an insightful and invigorating day with colleagues! I am always looking for ways to increase my knowledge and skill set so I can develop as a leader in policing and continue to give back to the communities I serve. I think the FLP is a really good opportunity to proactively do this, I can’t wait to continue on the programme with my colleagues.”

The second and third FLP cohorts are due to land in January and April 2022 respectively, and applications are now open.

Sunita Gamblin QPM, Chair of Police Now’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said: “I was excited to meet and develop police officers and detectives. We discussed what can get in the way, what to do about it, and how they can best focus their time on being champions of their Force vision, mission and purposes. We also discussed how staff networks and action learning can support them to be even greater public servants. 

“This leadership development is helping them to be more self aware and reflective, which in turn benefits communities. After meeting with them, I am now looking forward to seeing them progress as per the objectives of the front line leadership programme.”