West Midlands Police is to become the first UK force to put its officers and civilian employees through the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Chartered Manager programme.

Fourteen police officers and staff have been selected to begin the pilot scheme will be required to complete an assignment focusing on management issues relevant to civilian or police scenarios.

Inspector Yvonne Harris, Leadership Strategy Co-ordinator for West Midlands Police, said: "The scheme is significant because our staff will only be able to retain Chartered Manager status if they demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development.

"That means no one can rest on the laurels of an award and our local community will benefit from police who are determined to be the best."

This latest initiative forms part of the force's wider leadership programme, which is designed to provide leaders with a framework for individual development and examples of good practice.

The programme includes workshops, lectures and seminars, delivered on a monthly basis and which include a range of speakers, both internal and external, police and non-police.