Fifteen Jewish officers and staff from the Met, Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police and NPIA – representing five percent of all Jewish police staff – will attend the Positive Action Leadership Programme at the NPIA’s Bramshill site from 9 to 12 Feb.

The 4-day PALP is made up of eight modules looking at delegates’ values, beliefs and self-limiting assumptions as well as conflict resolution, decision making and mentoring. The sessions will be a mixture of facilitated discussion, group work and individual exercises.

The programme is part of the NPIA’s commitment to developing a wide cross-section of talent and creating a police service that properly reflects the community it serves. PALP is designed to encourage the retention and progression of members of under-represented groups in the police.

More than 300 police officers and staff from a range of under-represented groups have completed a PALP course since it started in 2006. These include Muslim, Christian and Hindu police officers and staff as well as those who are black, gay, women or disabled. The courses are delivered at NPIA sites or within individual forces for either a specific under-represented group or a mixed group.

NPIA Chief Executive, Chief Constable Peter Neyroud, said:

“This latest PALP is an excellent way to retain Jewish police staff and officers and to encourage them to progress through the force to potentially become the leaders of the future. Attending the PALP is a great development opportunity for anyone from an under-represented group who is ambitious to develop their police career.”

Mathew Shaer, Chairman of the Jewish Police Association, said: “I welcome the fact that the NPIA has decided to run this course. It is clear that the NPIA understands the challenges that minority groups face in terms of progression.”

The first PALP Alumni Conference will be held at NPIS’s Ryton site on 18 March 2010. The conference, which is free to attend, will enable those who have benefited from completing a PALP course to meet and share their experiences.

Forces’ or individuals wanting information about the PALP course should contact Sally Mullin, NPIA PALP co-ordinator – sally.mullin@npia.pnn.police.uk