Police to get university training

Recruits normally spend 16 weeks at a residential training centre

A shake-up of training for police officers in Kent will see new recruits studying at university for a year.

New officers will spend the first year of their training at university sites in Canterbury or Medway and will be awarded vocational Foundation Degrees.

Recruits normally spend the first 16 weeks at police college in Ashford.

Kent Police said the link between the force and Canterbury Christ Church University College is the first of its kind in England.

Track record

The changes will come into force in October with new officers known as student constables.

They will learn what is needed to support vulnerable members of the community as well as dealing with criminals in a skilled and professional way.

Kent Police Chief Constable Mike Fuller said: "I am pleased that Kent Police, by engaging in this modernisation project, will be moving its police officers closer to the community and I hope increase its confidence in our policing.

"We hope this new approach will also encourage more people to consider joining Kent Police."

The police said Christ Church was approached because of its track record in vocational training for other public sector workers such as teachers, nurses and probation officers.

The training will be non-residential to attract more people to become police officers.

The Ashford District Training Centre will still be used to provide training for other forces in the South East, Kent Police said.