Staffordshire University have joined forces with police across the West Midlands in a major new partnership which will change the face of policing across the region.
The new regional collaboration will deliver innovative, contemporary and high-quality police education and training. All new police recruits across four Forces will gain a Staffordshire University award as part of their work-related police constable training through one of two new study pathways;
- A three-year Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
- A two-year accelerated route for those entering with a degree, to train as a police constable and gain a Graduate Diploma in Policing.
Participating forces are:
- Staffordshire Police
- West Midlands Police
- Warwickshire Police
- West Mercia Police
Under the new scheme new police recruits will spend 80% of their time serving and protecting the community while ‘learning on the job’, with 20% of their time engaged in digitally-enabled learning, delivered and supported by experienced staff from Staffordshire University and the four Forces.
Staffordshire University succeeded against a range of competitors in securing the multi-million pound contract which will ensure that thousands of new police recruits are trained over a six-year period.
Professor Ieuan Ellis, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Partnerships and Region at Staffordshire University, said: “As a leading provider of flexible and digitally-enabled learning, we are delighted to be working in partnership with the four regional Forces to educate and train their future workforce to meet the changing needs of 21st century policing.
“Staffordshire University was one of a consortium of modern university partners to work with the College of Policing on creating a new degree apprenticeship for police constables. We have an established track-record of delivering successful policing and forensic science degrees and are highly experienced in preparing students for successful careers with the police.
“The new study pathways give flexibility to balance the demands of front-line policing alongside the challenges of undertaking degree level study. Students who may have been concerned about the costs of studying for a degree full-time at university have a route to gain a Staffordshire degree combined with on-the-job experience to enter a career in policing. The accelerated Degree-holder entry route encourages more graduates to enter the Forces. This partnership acts as a clear demonstration of our role as a civic university, serving the needs of our region and improving quality of life locally, regionally and nationally.”
Staffordshire Police Chief Constable, Gareth Morgan, said: "This partnership supports a significant change to the way police constables have previously been recruited and trained. It was crucial through this tender process we identified a university that could provide a course in support of on-the-job learning, more digitally-enabled and agile enough to support the needs of four different forces.
"Policing continues to evolve and challenge; the nature of police work has changed and this must be recognised. Cyber-enabled crime, protecting vulnerable people, online investigation and evidence gathering are all contributing towards the increasing complexity of modern policing. This new degree and associated diploma will recognise the skills police officers require today and ultimately, provide consistency in accreditation nationally.
"I look forward to welcoming our first cohort in June of this year."
Student officers will train and study during a two to three-year period, depending on which entry route they have chosen, with training for the first intake set to start in Summer 2019.
Those interested in training as a student officer can find out more at https://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses/policing