First in the country to celebrate success

First in the country to celebrate success

At Thames Valley Police (TVP) our vision is to be an excellent force trusted by all our communities. To do this, as a force we are committed to improve every day.

Two of our colleagues have done just that by recently qualifying from the new College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council Public Protection and Safeguarding Leaders’ Programme. Superintendent Rebecca Mears and Charlotte Donohoe are the first two senior leaders nationally to gain this qualification. Charlotte achieved this as TVP Head of our Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) and Rebecca in her previous role as TVP Head of Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP).

The programme is the PVP equivalent to the Tier 4 Senior Investigators’ course. It bridges the gap identified in the specialist knowledge required to deliver strategic leadership for all incidents and investigations with a public protection responsibility, particularly for complex cases involving multiple victims and dangerous offenders.

Students complete two courses and complete a substantial portfolio over 12 months, drawing on their experience of leading investigations involving vulnerability at a strategic level. This includes leveraging strategic partners to improve performance and build capability, strengthening partnerships while developing policy, strategy and governance to manage resources, and ensuring appropriate wellbeing provision is in place for PVP teams.

Charlotte Donohoe and Supt Rebecca Mears with their course completion certificates

On successful completion, Rebecca, said: “The programme positively reflects the prominence to which public protection has grown in policing. It is fantastic that there is now a course at a senior level that reflects the unique and sometimes misunderstood challenges of PVP, with a focus on genuine partnership relationships, which is central to our work today”.

Building on this from a police staff perspective, Charlotte, said: “Having this qualification has provided credibility for me and my role in what has traditionally been a DCI’s portfolio. It has given me confidence that our approach to vulnerability is aligned with the College of Policing and our peers. The course also provides an opportunity to spend time with people in similar roles, and we still keep in touch during those times when we need another opinion”.

Congratulations to Rebecca and Charlotte for their achievements!

By delivering a consistent standard of leadership for public protection and safeguarding across all forces, we can continue building confidence in policing amongst our communities, partners and victims.

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Thames Valley Police is actively looking for people to be the difference they want to see in their communities.

To find out more about a policing career with TVP – including the realities of working on response, initial training, and to apply to become a Police Officer please visit our Police Officer page