College of Policing

The College of Policing is a professional body for the police in England and Wales. It was established in 2012 to take over a number of training and development roles that were the responsibility of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA). The National Police Library also transferred over from the NPIA at that time. The college was created initially as a company limited by guarantee, but is due to be converted to an independent statutory authority following the passing of legislation by Government.
Formation.
The creation of a new policing professional body was announced by the Home Secretary in December 2011. Representatives from the Police Federation, the Superintendents' Association, ACPO and UNISON worked with the Home Office to create the College, ensuring that it represents the police service's desires and aspirations.
As soon as Parliamentary time allows, the College of Policing will be established as a statutory body, independent of government. While the necessary legislation is prepared, the College has been established as a company limited by guarantee.
The college officially launched on 4 February 2013 with Chief Constable Alex Marshall QPM as Chief Executive. Marshall has since left the college, retiring from policing in September 2017. Marshall was replaced by Mike Cunningham on 15 January 2018.
Education requirements.
The College of Policing has announced that from 2020, all new police officers in England and Wales will have to be educated to degree level. This policy will be administered through the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) which creates three entry routes into the police:
Authorised Professional Practice.
The College produces guidance for officers known as Authorised Professional Practice (APP). This covers topics such as firearms, stop and search, covert policing and investigations.
National Police Library.
The National Police Library is operated by the College to support everyone working in policing; providing access to digital and print resources.