College promises to ‘build on progress’ of most diverse SCC for ten years

The 2018 Strategic Command Course (SCC) will be the most diverse in a decade after the number of black and minority ethnic (BME) and police staff candidates quadrupled. Four of the 35 people taking next year`s SCC come from BME backgrounds, up from just one in 2017. And 13 of the successful candidates are female, three more than on 2017’s SCC and representing the same pass rate at the assessment centres as male candidates. Four police staff will also take the course next year, after just one did in each of the last two. Jo Noakes, SCC director for the College of Policing, told Police Professional: “It is greatly encouraging that next year’s Strategic Command Course will have the highest representation of female and BME students seen over the last decade. “However, we recognise that it is vital that we keep up this momentum through our review of Senior PNAC (Police National Assessment Centre) and the SCC and we are determined to build on the progress that has already been made.” Eighty-five people applied for the 2018 Senior PNAC and Senior Police Staff Assessment Process following a review by the college to ensure they do not present a barrier to progression. This involved career development workshops and a development centre being organised to help officers and staff build their skills. The 29 per cent increase in candidates saw 11 more applications from women and four more from BME officers and staff, bringing the totals to 31 and six. The pass rate this year was more or less equal for men and women at approximately 41 per cent. The last SCC saw 25 men and ten women qualify to serve as senior police officers. Of these, 32 have now secured new roles as deputy or assistant chief constables, with two men and one woman yet to gain a promotion. The 2016 course had 23 successful male and nine successful female delegates. All have been promoted to chief officer positions except for one male officer. From next year the assessment processes will run twice a year, in April in November. The SCC will remain an annual event.