The University is one of two North West institutions chosen to deliver police officer learning programmes
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) today announced a new partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and the University of Salford to further professionalise learning for police officers.
The new collaboration with the universities will deliver innovative and high-quality victim-centred learning to new student police officers.
Stephen Watson, GMP's Chief Constable, said: "This partnership will ensure GMP's student officers develop the leadership, skills and knowledge they need to deliver high-quality policing services to our communities.
"I'm looking forward to welcoming the first officers onto the new learning programmes later this year."
Two new programmes are being introduced from November 2021:
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA): a three-year professional policing degree apprenticeship.
Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP): a two-year graduate diploma.
Both offer the opportunity for successful applicants to gain a valuable qualification whilst serving as a police officer.
"This partnership will ensure GMP's student officers develop the leadership, skills and knowledge they need to deliver high-quality policing services to our communities."
— Stephen Watson, GMP's Chief Constable
UCLan’s Professor Chris Pyke, Executive Dean at the Faculty of Business and Justice, said: “It is fantastic to have been selected to deliver these innovative new programmes for Greater Manchester Police alongside our colleagues at the University of Salford.
“UCLan has been a leader in the design and delivery of policing programmes within the higher education sector for the last 17 years and since early 2020 has been successfully delivering the College of Policing nationally accredited PCDA and DHEP programmes with two other forces in the region.
“The step change from police training to the higher education experience is a really exciting time for all involved in the move towards greater professionalisation of the service. We are looking forward to developing the partnership with GMP in order to ensure that the public of Greater Manchester receive a first-class, compassionate service from their police officers.”
Professor Margaret Rowe, Dean of the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, said: “The School and University welcome the partnership with Greater Manchester Police and the University of Central Lancashire in providing the PEQF policing studies course.
“This course will offer transformational learning and diversity, which will impact on the safety and quality of life of the Greater Manchester population. We look forward to welcoming our new cohort of students who I know will enhance and contribute highly to the culture and development within the university."