To train or educate? or train and educate?: The Australian police recruit training versus tertiary education dilemma

Abstract Police organizations across the globe are challenged by how best to prepare recruits for careers in policing. In Australia, police organizations differ on whether to focus on officer preparedness in relation to occupational training or tertiary level police education. While the recruit training versus tertiary education dilemma is not a new debate regarding recruit preparation, this problem is heightened by the police staffing crisis, declining recruit applications, increasing officer retention, building a police force that is responsible, accountable, and respectful of the rights and dignity of every individual, and the need for officers to be digitally literate and to use technologies, so that the police organization can provide a better service to the community. As such, many Australian police organizations are struggling to recruit and retain officers and are considering whether mandated training or tertiary level education programs may dissuade or prevent applicants from a career in policing. This raises questions about the importance or lack of importance that Australian police organizations place on recruit education; firstly, as an entry requirement to a career in policing, and secondly, whether education should be partnered with occupational training. Whether recruits need to be educated to specific levels to effectively conduct police work and engage with citizens, or if police academy training (occupational training) without tertiary level police education is sufficient is discussed.