Initial training for frontline police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) working in neighbourhood policing.
The first part of the neighbourhood policing programme (NPP1) is designed to equip frontline police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) working in neighbourhood policing with the essential skills and knowledge they need to deliver a trusted and effective service to the public. NPP1 is exclusively online, and includes training on:
- engaging with communities
- problem solving
- tackling anti-social behaviour
NPP1 represents the first part of our neighbourhood policing programme (NPP), a first-of-its-kind training pathway dedicated to the role of being a neighbourhood police officer or police community support officer (PCSO). It aims to provide officers serving in these crucial roles with consistent, specialist training tailored to the unique challenges they face. The programme has been built on an evidence-based curriculum that will give officers the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to deliver trusted and effective neighbourhood policing to the public.
The training is a key pillar of the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – part of its Safer Streets mission and commitment to delivering effective neighbourhood policing to everyone in England and Wales, no matter where they live.
Once complete the full programme will be made up of four parts (NPP 1-4), each made up of a number of individual modules. The full NPP curriculum and training materials remain in development, and we are introducing each part through a phased roll out plan, with the entire programme expected to be available by 2027.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of NPP1, participants will be able to:
- Apply community engagement strategies to build trust and gather intelligence
- Use structured problem-solving techniques to address local issues
- Implement appropriate interventions to tackle anti-social behaviour
- Demonstrate operational competence in neighbourhood policing
- Contribute to creating safer communities through visible, effective neighbourhood policing
| Qualification eligibility |
No additional qualifications are required for NPP1 further than those required for initial entry into policing. |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites |
The College has guidance for recognised prior learning which provides clear information on the need for officers with existing training through police constable entry routes to carry out NPP training. This has been provided to all Home Office forces and is available to other forces on request. |
| Rank/staff eligibility |
Constables
Inspectors
Sergeants
|
| Practitioner group |
Police officers and police community support officers, and special constables, serving in neighbourhood policing roles. |
| Duration |
The NPP1 modules as well as the pre and post-learning assessments are expected to take no longer than 4 hours 40 minutes to complete, however, the pilot shows most will complete the online training more quickly. |
| Accreditation |
No
Accreditation notes:
It is a certified course and all serving officers and PCSOs who complete the training will receive a certificate, provided to them by their home force. |
| Cost |
Free to Home Office forces. Pricing for non-Home Office forces is awaited. |
| Course contact |
Superintendent Alex McMillan, Policing Standards Manager for Local Policing
|
NPP1 consists of online training broken into bitesize chunks for flexible learning. It also contains both pre-course and post-course assessments to measure learning outcomes and operational competence.
1. Pre-course assessment (1 module)
Learners will not receive their score, but this data will be shared with their force to enable benchmarking, underpinning knowledge of officers. It is important to note that the pre-assessment can only be completed once.
2. Community engagement (3 modules)
Learn how to build positive relationships with diverse communities, gather local intelligence and effectively respond to community concerns.
3. Problem solving (5 modules)
Master proven problem-solving methodologies to identify, analyse and address recurring issues within neighbourhoods.
4. Tackling anti-social behaviour (10 modules)
Develop comprehensive strategies to effectively deal with anti-social behaviour including prevention, intervention and enforcement as well as understanding and managing related risk.
5. Post-course assessment (1 module)
Based on the learning from the three modules and learners must achieve a pass rate of 80% or higher to progress to NPP2.
Assessment requirements
To successfully complete NPP1:
- Participants must complete a pre-course assessment to establish baseline knowledge
- All 18 modules must be completed in sequence
- A post-course assessment must be taken and a score of 80% or higher achieved
- Those who achieve this operational competence level will be eligible to progress to NPP2.
Non-Home Office police forces
Police forces outside of the Home Office remit who wish to access the neighbourhood policing programme training can obtain more information about licencing agreements by:
- Contacting the College of Policing's licencing team directly at licencing@college.police.uk
- Speaking to their local College of Policing relationship manager who can provide guidance on the licencing process and requirements.