TRAINING IN THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH POLICE - A CRITIQUE (FROM POLICE IN AUSTRALIA - DEVELOPMENT, FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES, 1977, BY KERRY L MILTE AND THOMAS A WEBER - SEE NCJ-50485)

• NCJ Number: 50495
• Author(s): K L MILTE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Butterworth Pty Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF THE COURSES OFFERED BY THE AUSTRALIAN POLICE COLLEGE IS PRESENT, AND A REORIENTATION OF THE COLLEGE'S CURRICULUM IS SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE COLLEGE IS THE CENTRAL TRAINING FACILITY FOR AUSTRALIA'S FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PRIMARILY THE COMMONWEALTH POLICE. IN 1974 THE COLLEGE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: CORRESPONDENCE COURSE FOR NEW CONSTABLES, TRAINED CONSTABLES' COURSE, INVESTIGATORS' COURSE, SUPERVISORS' COURSE, OFFICERS' COURSE, SENIOR EXECUTIVES' COURSE, NATIONAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' COURSE, SCIENTIFIC LIAISON OFFICERS' COURSE, SURVEILLANCE COURSE, AND INTERNATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS' COURSE. THE PURPOSE, CONTENT, AND STRUCTURE OF EACH COURSE ARE OUTLINED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE OFFERED. ONE SUGGESTION IS THAT THE COMMONWEALTH POLICE RECRUIT NEW CONSTABLES IN SQUADS FROM A POOL OF APPLICANTS, RATHER THAN ONE AT A TIME, SO THE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE CAN BE ELIMINATED IN FAVOR OF RESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR CLASSES OF RECRUITS. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT THE COLLEGE'S VOCATIONAL COURSES ARE USEFUL TO POLICE OFFICERS BUT THAT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON NARROW TOPICS THAT COULD BE TAUGHT LOCALLY RATHER THAN AT THE CENTRAL FACILITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COLLEGE FOCUS ON INDEPTH EXAMINATION OF COMPLEX MANAGERIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS, LEAVING SUCH SUBJECTS AS LAW, SURVEILLANCE, AND INTERNAL PROCEDURES TO DISTRICT-LEVEL TRAINERS. (LKM)