Cumbria Constabulary has welcomed the first 20 new constables who have been enrolled on a ground-breaking training programme being delivered by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
The new constables will study on a two-year accelerated route, for those entering with a degree in any subject, enabling recruits employed by Cumbria Constabulary to train as a police constable and gain a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.
The new recruits were welcomed into the force at a recent attestation event.
Professor Ian Allison, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology at UCLan, said: “It’s fantastic to have been selected by Cumbria Constabulary to deliver the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) as one of the entry pathways within the Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF). This first cohort is a very important milestone for policing and we are delighted to play our part.
“UCLan has been shaping and delivering a wide range of policing provision for a period of 18 years, having a positive impact and opening up a range of employment opportunities for individuals as a nationally recognised Higher Education Institution within the discipline.
“We’re looking forward to working in partnership with Cumbria Constabulary and despite the significant challenges that Covid 19 has presented, we will be fully supporting the new officers by still delivering high quality teaching combined with practical experience for the candidates embarking upon these new and exciting opportunities."
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Webster, Cumbria Constabulary, added: “I’m delighted to welcome these officers to Cumbria at the start of their policing careers. They begin a role which offers diversity, challenge and great fulfilment; where together, they can make a real difference to our communities.
“They are also our first recruits on the degree-holder entry programme which means those joining have all the experiences that go with completing a degree which can be hugely beneficial to our policing approach.”
The DHEP programme is part of a drive to open up policing to people who may not have considered it be a career choice for them in the past.