Summary
Police officers in England and Wales must now have a work licence to keep their jobs. This new rule is part of wide-ranging changes to improve policing, including new powers for ministers to remove or intervene with poorly performing police chiefs. The changes aim to set clear standards and improve police skills across the country.
Key Facts
- Every police officer in England and Wales must have a licence to continue working.
- Officers will need to show they have necessary skills, like tackling violence against women and girls.
- The licensing is part of larger police reform plans announced by the Home Office.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is leading these reforms, aiming for the biggest changes in decades.
- Ministers now have the authority to dismiss chief constables if they are underperforming.
- New training will be provided to ensure all officers keep up with the latest policing methods.
- The number of police forces will be reduced from the existing 43.
- The government wants to ensure all communities receive proper policing standards.
