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Survey by Professional Policing degree university casts doubt on 20,000 recruitment target.

Date - 4th March 2020
By - Gary Mason

2 Comments

Almost a quarter (24%) of 18-24-year-olds believe a career in the police force is not accessible, despite government initiatives to boost officer numbers according to a survey by a university which has launched a Professional Policing degree recently.

The University of Law (ULaw) decided to conduct the survey on the back of the Government’s 20,000 uplift and the introduction of the Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF) which will require all new recruits to have or work towards a degree qualification.

According to the findings, 50% of those aged 18-24 years old have never considered a profession in the police, whilst almost a third (31%) have but didn’t follow the career choice.

The main reason young people aren’t willing to pursue a career with the police is because they see it as a dangerous role (53%). However, ULaw also found that for more than one in ten (15%) young people the main reason is that they’re unsure of development opportunities, while 8% feel the force isn’t diverse enough and 6% agree they don’t see their own identity represented in the force.

ULaw has launched its Professional Policing (BSc) degree which it says aims to address the issues highlighted by the research. The degree, launched in September last year, allows students to develop a knowledge of policing before applying to a force and provides a foundation for further study in areas such as criminology which opens up further career options.

Salome Verrell, Senior Tutor at The University of Law, says: “Our research has highlighted that a significant proportion of young people do not see policing as an accessible career, which presents challenges for the police in recruiting young and talented individuals and reaching the demanding targets that have been set out.

“Our main focus is to provide students with a well-rounded knowledge of how to become a police officer, as well as looking at wider roles in the criminal justice system. In doing so we aim to improve perceptions of what a career with the police can entail, in turn improving diversity in the force, which will be key in increasing policing numbers in the coming years.

“We’re hopeful our new course will encourage people from all backgrounds and demographics to consider policing as a career and remove certain stigmas and barriers to entry highlighted by our research.”

The University of Law is a specialist provider of legal education and training, with campuses in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham, and an international campus in Hong Kong.

Students can also study its courses at the University of East Anglia, The University of Exeter, The University of Reading, and The University of Liverpool.

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[IrrationalPi 0]

Given the need for a degree, I’m surprised the low starting wage didn’t feature... unless the sample was taken outside of London and the south east!

[Sierra Lima + 117]

1 hour ago, IrrationalPi said:

Given the need for a degree, I’m surprised the low starting wage didn’t feature... unless the sample was taken outside of London and the south east!

You don't need a degree to join. 

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

It must have come as some great shock that Policing has dangers. When you go on duty you never know what will happen, what you will face, or what will go down. Just, perhaps, it shows what the Snowflake generation are about. Have they any perception of life?

[XA84 + 434]

5 hours ago, IrrationalPi said:

Given the need for a degree, I’m surprised the low starting wage didn’t feature... unless the sample was taken outside of London and the south east!

There are three routes to entry when applying for the police: 

 

• Apprenticeship. Join as a constable, and follow an apprenticeship in professional policing practice - you will earn while you learn. This route normally takes three years with both on and off-the-job learning. On successfully finishing the programme, you complete your probation and achieve a degree.
• Degree-holder entry - If you already have a degree in any subject, you can join and follow a work-based programme, supported by off-the-job learning.  This route normally takes two years, and the learning you have undergone is recognised in a graduate diploma in professional policing practice when you complete your probation.
• Pre-join degree. If you want to study first, you can do a three year degree in professional policing at your own expense, and then apply to a force and follow a shorter on-the-job training programme. For this route, you will need to find a university to study with and apply directly to them.

Some forces still offer the old fashioned IPLDP course which is attending training school for the 12-20 weeks and then attest on completion however this is being phased out and rather quickly. 

I have to agree regarding the wage, for me it's too low considering what is expected of you within the job. Before others say it I work in house with my local force and have experience as a special constable so I know the day in and day out routines of officers etc. From what I have been told by colleagues the issue I have is the fact that your starting wage is set until you complete your probationary period which is when your wage then increases. If this is correct (for the non-degree holders it would me that they would be capped at £20k for three years. 

 

[IrrationalPi 0]

4 hours ago, Sierra Lima said:

You don't need a degree to join. 

I thought new entrants now had to have one, or be working towards one? Quite how anyone could fit a degree in with shift work is anyone’s guess.

[IrrationalPi 0]

XA84, I see your post covers it all, thanks!

[Sierra Lima + 117]

10 hours ago, XA84 said:

this is correct (for the non-degree holders it would me that they would be capped at £20k for three years. 

 

No, some forces pay apprentices the same £24k +. 

[Sierra Lima + 117]

10 hours ago, XA84 said:

this is correct (for the non-degree holders it would me that they would be capped at £20k for three years. 

 

No, some forces pay apprentices the same £24k +. 

[XA84 + 434]

1 minute ago, Sierra Lima said:

No, some forces pay apprentices the same £24k +. 

To my understanding that's only if you have a degree, otherwise the starting salary is £20k.

[Beaker 817]

13 hours ago, XA84 said:

To my understanding that's only if you have a degree, otherwise the starting salary is £20k.

Nope, everyone at Lancs at least starts at £23,586 with annual increase.  That includes the Detective Entry people. 

[XA84 + 434]

Then it differs from force to force. 

My home force starts at £20,879 (for non degree holder)

Humberside starts at £20,800 (for non degree holder)

North Yorkshire starts at £20,370 (for non degree holder)

Why all forces couldn't just join and decide a fair wage is beyond me but hey ho. 

[Sierra Lima + 117]

Cheshire constabulary pays its apprentices £24,177. 

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

In the survey Pay was not raised as an issue. The issues were quote "The main reason young people aren’t willing to pursue a career with the police is because they see it as a dangerous role (53%). However, ULaw also found that for more than one in ten (15%) young people the main reason is that they’re unsure of development opportunities, while 8% feel the force isn’t diverse enough and 6% agree they don’t see their own identity represented in the force".    

It should not come as any surprise that Policing is a dangerous profession which is perhaps a draw back for the millenial  "Snowflakes"  Many of those people seem oblivious to reality, and would think more of bedecking themselves in Tattoo's and piercings.   For any 20/24 year old £24K is not a bad pay rate. It becomes more so for an older candidate.  Someone of 30+ would find it as a retrograde step.

[skydiver + 1,099]

Degree or no degree it is beginning to look like policing is becoming less attractive as a career for young people and maybe the last 10 years of anti police rhetoric from the government is having an effect.  The relatively low starting salary will put off older candidates from joining whilst the young are being put off by what is a core part of our work i.e. dealing with violent people!  I'm sure that some of them have that attitude that having a degree is incompatible with joining a job where people have to use force, much like some nurses think that having a degree makes cleaning a patient's bum is beneath them!