Policing students serve community as they study
Policing students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are already getting stuck into the job after being sworn in as Special Constables across two forces.
Lancashire Constabulary and the British Transport Police (BTP) have welcomed a total of 36 UCLan Foundation Policing students who will work as Special Constables alongside their studies. Lancashire Constabulary will take on 22 with 14 students working for BTP.
Speaking at the BTP attestation ceremony where students are sworn in as Special Constables, Principal Lecturer and Academic Lead for Policing Clive Tattum said: “The UCLan Foundation Degree in Policing has a proven and long standing record of preparing students for a career in policing. Year on year our students have found full-time careers as police officers with our partner police forces Lancashire Constabulary and British Transport Police, and other police forces nationally. This is further proof of the role that higher education has in preparing students for the challenges of policing and serving the public.
"I am proud once again to see another cohort of UCLan students being accepted into the policing family as Special Constables and take their first step onto their career ladder with a bright future ahead of them."
“I am proud once again to see another cohort of UCLan students being accepted into the policing family as Special Constables and take their first step onto their career ladder with a bright future ahead of them.”
Each student will commit to 16 hours per week as a Special Constable during their two year course, with the option of progressing onto degree level study. One new recruit, Emma Lynn, commented: “We’ve already learned a lot during the first six months and I expect we’ll all grow dramatically as people once we begin the job. I’m looking forward to getting started and being a police officer in training as well as a student.”
As part of the programme, UCLan and BTP are running a pilot scheme that will see the foundation students offered permanent police officer roles in the force after their course. Its success has led to City and Islington College franchising the scheme, with students being awarded foundation degrees through UCLan and working for their local BTP.
"Special Constables are an integral part of the BTP policing family and last year across the UK contributed £3 million worth of activity to keeping the travelling public safe."
BTP Superintendent Kyle Gordon added: “Special Constables are an integral part of the BTP policing family and last year across the UK contributed £3million worth of activity to keeping the travelling public safe. Policing is following other public service occupations and professionalising its workforce through the creation of a professional body for policing and an increase in academic utilisation across the ranks.
“Linking with high calibre universities such as UCLan is an important part of delivering this vision. We are delighted to welcome our latest recruits who will no doubt make a valuable contribution to keeping the travelling public safe and the rail network free from crime.”
View photos from the event on the UCLan Flickr gallery.