Staffordshire Police’s neighbourhood officers undertake specialist problem-solving training

It is the first ‘whole neighbourhood’ training approach to be taken by a force and supports our Neighbourhood Policing Strategy, which seeks to ensure a safe and confident Staffordshire, providing the best service possible to victims of crime and bringing offenders to justice. 

The two-day course will provide Continued Professional Development (CPD) for neighbourhood officers, including the application of problem solving to local crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) problems, the use of crime prevention resources and security products, such as Secured by Design’s Police Preferred accredited products, and the process and legislation that supports an effective home security survey. 

Staffordshire is home to more than 1.1 million people in an area covering 1,000 square miles. Spanning from the rural moorlands to urban areas, such as Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth, Cannock and Burton-upon-Trent, the county borders Cheshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. 

The force has 10 LPTs, each headed by a chief inspector and including response and neighbourhood police officers, PCSOs, special constables and harm reduction hubs that work closely with partners and local communities. 

Assistant Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Stuart Ellison, said: “This problem-solving approach is at the heart of our Neighbourhood Policing Strategy and the work of our specialist policing teams. The training course will bolster our neighbourhood officers’ problem-solving skills and give them a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved. 

“Our local officers continue to work alongside both public and private sector groups, tackling the causes of these problems and developing long-term, lasting solutions to deep-rooted issues that really matter to our communities. The approach has yielded impressive results that have improved the quality of life for communities and individuals, with reduced offending and fewer victims in the hotspot areas we have identified.” 

Head of Academy Guy Collyer, said: “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Staffordshire Police in providing CPD for their neighbourhood officers, who play a crucial role in supporting trust and confidence in policing with communities. The force has also invested in Problem Solving, Crime Prevention and Designing Out Crime qualifications for its officers over the years, most recently with the Academy’s Level 3 strategic problem solving qualification in August 2023.”

Academy Courses and Qualifications

The Police Crime Prevention Academy delivers a variety of crime prevention, designing out crime and problem-solving qualifications, eLearning courses, webinars and bespoke training events for police forces across the UK, as well as for both the public and private sectors.  

Accredited by the awarding body ProQual, these national vocational qualifications can be delivered either locally and in person, virtually via Microsoft Teams or through the Academy’s eLearning platform www.crimepreventionacademyonline.com. 

For more information about the Academy’s qualifications and eLearning CPD courses, please visit www.crimepreventionacademy.com  or contact the Academy at .