Every police officer in England and Wales will soon need to hold and regularly renew a new ‘licence to practise’ as part of a comprehensive overhaul of policing standards. This initiative, unveiled on January 23, 2026, aims to introduce a structured framework for officer training and evaluation, marking the most significant reforms in British policing in two centuries.
Details of the New Framework
The proposed ‘licence to practise’ mirrors the licensing system used for medical professionals, wherein officers must demonstrate continuous skill development and training every five years. They will be required to pass interviews assessing their professional development, qualifications, and achievements. Officers who do not meet the standards may receive mentoring support, but repeated failures could lead to loss of their licence.
While the Home Office has not specified the frequency of licence renewals, the initiative intends to ensure that officers possess the necessary problem-solving and technological skills to enhance public safety. Policing Minister Sarah Jones emphasized that this new framework will equip officers with “the skills and capabilities to do the job,” irrespective of their experience level.
Criticism and Concerns
Despite the intentions behind the reforms, the proposal has faced significant criticism. Former Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye expressed strong reservations, calling the scheme “an expensive, bureaucratic distraction” that fails to address the core issues plaguing British policing. He questioned the necessity of such a licensing system, given that police officers already hold a warrant card and are subject to rigorous training and vetting processes.
Akinbusoye highlighted pressing concerns within the police force, including recruitment challenges, retention issues, and cultural problems, suggesting that these areas should be prioritized over implementing a new licensing scheme. He argued, “People do not want more regulation, more processes, or more box-ticking. They just want competent, effective, professional police officers keeping them safe.”
The Home Office acknowledges that while some areas of policing have established mandatory training standards, such as for firearms, there currently is no cohesive national system for evaluating officer performance. The newly introduced programme will be rolled out in phases, establishing uniform standards across various policing aspects, thereby replacing the inconsistent practices that vary from one police force to another.
Jones reiterated the importance of adaptability within the police force, stating, “As crime evolves, we expect police to evolve more quickly.” She believes that the Licence to Practise will allow police forces to enhance their effectiveness, ultimately leading to better crime prevention and community protection.
As the details of this new licensing process unfold, the implications for both police officers and the communities they serve will become clearer, shaping the future landscape of policing in England and Wales.
