A senior RCIPS officer, who is participating in the UK College of Policing Strategic Command Course, is thoroughly enjoying the experience and is confident that the hard worked associated with the course will benefit him, the RCIPS and the wider Cayman Islands.

In a move designed to ensure that local police officers are encouraged to realise their full potential within the service, the RCIPS nominated Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton to attend the Strategic Command Course (SCC).

The course aims to prepare leaders for the 21st century and produce a pool of operationally credible, professional and competent officers who have the potential to be promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable. There are thirty-six people on the course, which began on 13 January and will run until late March. The participants are police officers, mainly from the UK, of the rank of Chief Superintendent and above. In addition, some public sector executive leaders are in attendance.  Mr. Walton is one of only two participants from the Caribbean.

The themes of the SCC, which is based in Hampshire, concentrate on the three domains of police leadership;

Executive – to create resilient, confident, emotionally intelligent, ethical, politically astute leaders, with clear values and vision, and with credibility as public sector leaders at the executive level.

Business – to create accountable public sector leaders with executive business skills able to lead and transform high profile multi-million pound public sector organisations with integrity, whilst safeguarding the public.

Professional policing – the creation of qualified operational police commanders ready to be appointed to Chief Officer roles.

Mr. Walton is relishing the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other senior officers and executives alike.

“It has been challenging and thought provoking thus far,” he said. “A number of experts conducting the lectures have been carefully selected by the college from a cross sector of business chief executives, professors and senior police leaders, including Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe .

“We have demanding daily assignments which sometimes take us into the late part of the night, preparing for the next day. It’s hard work, but I can already see the benefits that this course will bring.

“The SCC presents an opportunity for all of the senior leaders on the course to engage in a demanding and stretching programme in preparation for transition to executive level posts. I’m sure that the experience I gain from this will not only benefit me as an individual, but will enhance my performance as a senior police officer. That can only benefit the organisation and, of course, the communities we serve.”

Commissioner David Baines is delighted that the RCIPS was able to secure a place on the SCC for Mr. Walton. “It’s vitally important that our young Caymanian leaders have an opportunity to experience training and development at the highest levels. I attended this course in 2005 and I speak from experience when I say that Kurt will thoroughly enjoy it, but more importantly it will allow him to develop his full potential and ensure that he is better equipped for any future promotion. We are all working towards the day when local talent take on the most senior positions within the RCIPS. The inclusion of a Caymanian on the Strategic Command Course takes us one step closer to realising that goal.”