Aim: Citizens will first and foremost have direct day-to-day contact with the officers who form the imaginary backbone of policing. This is the case, for example, with a roadside check, a police stop or any other ‘everyday’ police action, where the legislator and all members of society expect our police officers to make sound, human and professional decisions. In taking action, the police must make necessary, proportionate, legal and professional decisions, one of the essential prerequisites of which is an appropriate level of basic training, continuous training and further training, and the continuous development of knowledge. The aim of this study is to present the past and present of the training of police officers, which is little known to many.
Methodology: For the preparation of the study, in addition to examining the available relevant domestic literature, the practical aspects of today’s officer training will be discussed.
Findings: The police profession is a highly responsible service requiring specialised knowledge and skills, and the training programmes and institutions that provide the foundations for this have evolved and continue to evolve with the expectations placed on police forces throughout their history, which has been full of trials and challenges.
Value: The study presents the past and present of the little-known training of domestic police officers.