Provision of Police Leadership Development Opportunities, Bramshill: Problem, Solution and a Critical Engagement

• NCJ Number: 189277
• Journal: International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: Spring 2001 Pages: 260-278
• Author(s): Robert Adlam
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article addresses the current interest in the question of police leadership effectiveness.

Abstract

For 50 years the National Police Training, Bramshill, has provided “higher” police training in relation to the development of police leaders and the leadership of police organizations. The core function of the National Police Leadership Faculty situated at Bramshill is the provision of quality-assured police leadership development opportunities. It is suggested that a sufficient body of knowledge has accumulated showing that police leadership is a distinct and difficult practice. Given that the current provision of police leadership development is inadequate, there is a set of suggested moves that can be made in the quest to develop effective police leaders. These include: the provision of the study of police leadership for present and future police leaders; an analysis of distinct problems of policing and the consequences for development of police officers; and scrutinizing the emerging field of policing. Also included are the study of police leaders and the genesis of axiomatic knowledge; action research/reflective practitioner enquiry for police leaders; holistic development for police leaders; police leadership symposia; and researching and reforming the system for the production of police leaders. A series of questions are raised that are designed to challenge the assumption that better leadership is the solution to the problem of police effectiveness. A discussion is developed in relation to the apparent continuation of heroic images of leadership. The psychological effects of power wielding, as described in Weber’s (1967) essay “Politics as a Vocation” are considered. It is argued that the current content of the police leadership development curriculum is superficial and inadequate because it fails to include this type of analysis in its courses and programs of study. 85 references.