Wednesday 28 Nov 2007 @ 14:55
West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police
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Students Receive Police Studies Degree
West Yorkshire Police's first ever Police Studies students will graduate from the University of Huddersfield today.
West Yorkshire is one of the first Police Forces in the country to adopt a Foundation Degree route for its trainee officers and 97 PCs are set to receive their qualifications.
The officers have graduated after two-years of practical and class-based work that has formed part of their probationary period with the University.
The two year programme saw a shift from residential training in various areas of the country and now includes blocks of study covering topics such as Understanding Social and Community Issues, Professional and Community Partnerships, Equality and Diversity and Human Rights.
Student officers also carried out placements with a range of community groups as well as being assessed in a range of practical Policing exercises to ensure that they can step onto the streets as well rounded officers who are fully aware of the issues they are likely to face.
Virginia Hainsworth, Training Manager at West Yorkshire Police's Training and Development Centre said: "The whole two year training programme is designed around national standards and the Foundation Degree element is also linked to those standards.
"Accreditation of the programme to Foundation Degree level allows us to deliver training in partnership with a well established and highly regarded University. As a result, we have enhanced our assessment processes, allowed our Student Officers to reflect more on their role in society and to take a broader view of policing in ever-changing communities.
"They now come out of their two year probationary period with a professional policing qualification. Foundation Degree assignments are still linked to practical policing and the University provides a lot of support in study skills for those without a previous academic history or who have been out of education for a long time."
Those that have graduated have the option of further study to make the Foundation Degree a full BSc Honours in Applied Criminology.
The following are from some of the students who are graduating:
PC Stephen Neesham of Bradford North police said: "The university course has helped me to develop professionally and academically in a way I would not have done without it. Learning about crime theories, and understanding how the police, probation and courts work together has been of value in my day to day police work."
"I particularly enjoyed the partnership work on how voluntary and statutory agencies work together. Although it was hard work, combining study and shift working, I would recommend it to anyone."
PC Neil Taylor of Dewsbury Police said: "Working in partnership with Huddersfield University and attaining a foundation degree has enabled me to be armed with professional knowledge and expertise, not only in practice but in a theoretical way that has enabled me to understand more about victims of crime."
"I especially enjoyed the community partnership placements where I could see first hand how hard external partnership agencies work alongside the Police service. It enabled me to recognise the importance of partnership working in order to achieve the common goals of reducing crime, the fear of crime and the rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders into the community. The last two years have been extremely demanding but undoubtedly a worthwhile process."
West Yorkshire is one of the first Police Forces in the country to adopt a Foundation Degree route for its trainee officers and 97 PCs are set to receive their qualifications.
The officers have graduated after two-years of practical and class-based work that has formed part of their probationary period with the University.
The two year programme saw a shift from residential training in various areas of the country and now includes blocks of study covering topics such as Understanding Social and Community Issues, Professional and Community Partnerships, Equality and Diversity and Human Rights.
Student officers also carried out placements with a range of community groups as well as being assessed in a range of practical Policing exercises to ensure that they can step onto the streets as well rounded officers who are fully aware of the issues they are likely to face.
Virginia Hainsworth, Training Manager at West Yorkshire Police's Training and Development Centre said: "The whole two year training programme is designed around national standards and the Foundation Degree element is also linked to those standards.
"Accreditation of the programme to Foundation Degree level allows us to deliver training in partnership with a well established and highly regarded University. As a result, we have enhanced our assessment processes, allowed our Student Officers to reflect more on their role in society and to take a broader view of policing in ever-changing communities.
"They now come out of their two year probationary period with a professional policing qualification. Foundation Degree assignments are still linked to practical policing and the University provides a lot of support in study skills for those without a previous academic history or who have been out of education for a long time."
Those that have graduated have the option of further study to make the Foundation Degree a full BSc Honours in Applied Criminology.
The following are from some of the students who are graduating:
PC Stephen Neesham of Bradford North police said: "The university course has helped me to develop professionally and academically in a way I would not have done without it. Learning about crime theories, and understanding how the police, probation and courts work together has been of value in my day to day police work."
"I particularly enjoyed the partnership work on how voluntary and statutory agencies work together. Although it was hard work, combining study and shift working, I would recommend it to anyone."
PC Neil Taylor of Dewsbury Police said: "Working in partnership with Huddersfield University and attaining a foundation degree has enabled me to be armed with professional knowledge and expertise, not only in practice but in a theoretical way that has enabled me to understand more about victims of crime."
"I especially enjoyed the community partnership placements where I could see first hand how hard external partnership agencies work alongside the Police service. It enabled me to recognise the importance of partnership working in order to achieve the common goals of reducing crime, the fear of crime and the rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders into the community. The last two years have been extremely demanding but undoubtedly a worthwhile process."
