Fast-tracking top police officers is dicing with death, says crime chief I'm not overstating things when I say that someone joining the service as a superintendent is actually dicing with death; it shows a complete lack of understanding by the Government of what superintendents do. To think that someone could join as a superintendent, which is an operationally critical role, without policing experience and have responsibility for investigating murders, rapes and serious incidents defies logic. Recruits of "exceptional achievement and ability" would understand "the role of a constable" in just 20 weeks and the key skills and knowledge to be a superintendent in a further 18, according to the consultation. The full course, lasting a year and three months, would also include 26 weeks of in-force training with "experience in operational command" and a final selection board of up to two days. Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy, the lead on workforce development for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), warned: "The direct-entry officer class model tends to be followed by paramilitary police forces such as the French CRS or the Italian Carabinieri. ACPO has no problem with bringing in expertise from outside and in many forces up to 50 per cent of staff are non police officers. On the other hand, such matters as firearms operations, murder investigations and dealing with public disorder are commanded by those with proven expertise and records of achievement. The Greater Manchester Police chief constable added: "Police forces are not short of talent. In fact a bigger challenge is dealing with ambitious staff frustrated by the lack of promotion opportunities. Bringing people in from outside to senior leadership positions will obviously make that more difficult. Damian Green, the policing minister, said: "It is vital that we have a modern and flexible police force to meet the demands placed on it."