First Degree Apprentice police officers begin training

Published: 9 August 2021 at 18:00

New Degree Apprenticeship recruits at Hertfordshire Constabulary

Hertfordshire’s Chief Constable welcomes new recruits being taught by ARU

Chief Constable Charlie Hall has welcomed Hertfordshire Constabulary’s first intake of police officers to start the new Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).

Hertfordshire’s top cop took time out to speak personally with the officers, the first in the region to start the PCDA training with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), congratulating them on their choice of career.

Chief Constable Hall said:
“I am always delighted to meet our new recruits and it was wonderful to meet these first young men and women to take on our new degree training course.

“These recruits will learn all the skills they need to become confident and capable members of our policing family, with full on-the-job training, and in addition they will gain a degree from Anglia Ruskin University.

“As the first constabulary in the region to start delivering the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF), I must thank my dedicated team who have worked round-the-clock to develop a first-class training programme with the university.”

The lucky 13 – five female and eight male – range in age from 19 to 29 years old.

Sara Archer, Head of Partnership Delivery for Police Education at ARU, said: 
“The new PCDA route will help police forces attract police officers from non-traditional backgrounds and provide them with a university education along with their training.

“We are excited to follow the progress of these new recruits both as they work to achieve their degree apprenticeships and in their future careers with Hertfordshire Constabulary.”

Chief Constable Hall added: 
“I’ve enjoyed every moment of my policing career and can’t recommend it highly enough. I’d particularly like to reach out to people from diverse backgrounds, to say please come forward, we want you to apply as we want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and protect.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd said: 
“Hertfordshire now has the largest force in its history, and it is continuing to increase every month. These student officers are amongst the first to be offered a fully-funded degree apprenticeship, which means they will earn while they learn.

“Policing is a fantastic and challenging career where people can make a real positive difference to their communities. More than ever I am seeing new officers from all age ranges and under-represented groups joining up. I wish these new recruits all the best in their new roles and look forward to seeing them on our county’s streets soon.”

The police forces of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, and Suffolk are working with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) to train more than 4,800 new police officers. Officers will join their force, be taught on police premises, earn a qualification and graduate from ARU.  Our police forces are inclusive employers, value difference and are dedicated to being representative of the communities they serve.

The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the Degree Holder Entry Programme are part of the new Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF), which aims to further professionalise policing as a career by raising educational standards. For further information, visit https://aru.ac.uk/study/degree-apprenticeships/become-a-police-officer