Developing an evidence based approach to police graduate training

The College of Policing launched a consultation in 2016 on plans to require all police recruits to hold a policing qualification at degree level. The plans were agreed in 2017 as part of the College’s Police Educational Qualification Framework (PEQF) with the expectation that the degree requirement would take effect from 2020. The PEQF provided for three entry routes for police constables. The aim of the project was to contribute to an evidence-informed dialogue about the nature, quality and purpose of police education. More specifically the project examined questions that relate to the development of the Degree Holder Entry Programme, in particular: how do graduate police recruits learn about the standards for policing and the public expectations of a police officer? How do graduate police recruits apply their critical skills (gleaned from their university study) to their decision making as a police office? What is the role of evidence and how do graduate police officers learn the essential skills/craft of policing, and do graduate recruits have different learning styles from non-graduate recruits.

This project was completed in March 2018.