The Police (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Police (Promotion) Regulations 1979 (“the principal Regulations”), principally so as to alter the form of the qualifying examinations for promotion to the ranks of sergeant and inspector and to reflect new arrangements at the Police Staff College.

As respects the qualifying examinations, wholly written examinations are replaced by two-part examinations, the first Part consisting of a written paper and the second of practical tests; in 1991 only Part I of the inspectors' examination, but in subsequent years each Part of each of the examinations, is to be held (regulation 6(1)). Related changes are made in provisions about pass standards and re-taking (regulation 6(2)). New eligibility rules are introduced by regulation 6(4); in particular, a person who is already qualified for promotion by a pass obtained at any time cannot take the examination again. Separate examinations for the metropolitan police force are discontinued (regulation 6(6)).

Regulation 4, which substitutes a new regulation 9 for regulations 9 to 11 of the principal Regulations, reflects the introduction of new training courses at the Police Staff College, replacing the “special course” referred to in those regulations. Promotion to sergeant is now linked to the starting date of the sergeants' course, rather than occurring on a fixed date. Promotion to inspector at the start of the inspectors' course is no longer temporary, though it remains probationary.

Regulation 7, with the Schedule, makes transitional provision in connection with regulations 4 and 6. A sergeants' examination in a wholly written form may be taken in 1991, and single papers may be taken then and in 1992 and 1993, by candidates who would have been eligible to do so under the principal Regulations as in force before the commencement of these Regulations. Provision is also made for the completion ofthe “special course” Part II begun in September 1991, and for sergeants promoted in September 1991 on selection for Part I of the 1992 “special course” to attend the new sergeants' course starting in 1991.

The amendments made by regulations 2 and 5 are largely consequential. Regulation 3, which is unrelated to the other amendments, corrects an anomaly (for the purpose of qualifying for promotion, although service in other constabularies counts as service probationary service in them did not count as probationary service).