Proud Day for New Student Police Officers
A former butcher, carer and jeweller were among the 10 new student police officers welcomed to Hertfordshire Constabulary last week.
Proud families and friends gathered at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on Monday 9 May to watch as Chief Constable Charlie Hall presented the new police officers framed certificates to mark the end of their initial training. The group also included a former Police Community Support Officer.
‘I take great pleasure and pride in welcoming our new police officers into the Hertfordshire police family,’ he said. ‘It is wonderful to have their parents, family and friends in the audience because I know they have a huge amount of pride at what they’ve already achieved.
‘I like to reassure their families that we will look after their loved ones, we are one big family, and we look out for each other. We train them well and work as one big team. Policing really is a superb career choice, I’ve never regretted it because the cliché is true – no two days are the same and it is so rewarding to make a difference to people’s lives and our communities.’
The student officers now start their first postings with two officers based in both Bishop’s Stortford and Stevenage, and one officer heading to Berkhamsted, Borehamwood, Cheshunt, Hertford, Letchworth and London Colney.
Their initial training included a mixture of classroom based and practical sessions, covering a vast range of topics including law and powers, personal safety and dealing with volatile situations, first aid and safeguarding vulnerable victims. On-the-job training continues for three years until officers are declared fit for independent patrol and graduate.
‘We’re still recruiting police officers from all backgrounds and walks of life, and I would especially encourage applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority people as we want to represent the communities we serve. Our dedicated Positive Action recruitment team are there to support you, with serving officers volunteering to mentor hopefuls as they prepare their application. Just get in touch.’
There are two main entry routes which all involve on-the-job training after an initial course:
- Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) – join as a police officer and achieve a BSc (Hons) degree in Professional Policing Practice. This is a three-year, work-based, practical and vocational degree.
- Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) – graduates with a degree in any subject can achieve a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice while training as a police officer over two years.
And coming to a close soon:
- Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) course – old-style course where you can train to be a police officer over two years without the academic course.
David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: ‘I would like to welcome these new officers to Hertfordshire Constabulary. They are embarking on a challenging career, but one which brings huge rewards, opportunities and makes a real difference to our community.
‘For several years now, I have increased the council tax because residents have told me they want extra officers on the streets. The Constabulary and I have delivered on this and Hertfordshire now has more frontline officers than ever in its history.’
If you feel inspired to become a Hertfordshire police officer, visit the police officer recruitment website at www.hertspoliceofficer.co.uk to find out how to apply and register your interest.
Through its ‘Positive Action’ scheme, Hertfordshire Constabulary is committed to building relationships with under-represented groups and encouraging them to join the policing family. For more information and support visit the police officer recruitment website diversity page at www.hertspoliceofficer.co.uk/diversity.