Police Degrees: Being a great cop doesn’t necessarily include being able to write a dissertation

14 November 2022

Being a great cop doesn’t necessarily include being able to write a dissertation, the Chair of Norfolk Police Federation has said, as he welcomed the news that there will be a new, non-degree entry route into policing.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced the change at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and National Police Chiefs’ Council Partnership Summit, in a speech in which she said policing needed to “draw from the widest pool of talent”.

Norfolk Police Federation Chair Andy Symonds said the Federation had been campaigning on this issue for some time, arguing that the current Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) was putting off recruits from the military, Special Constables and older career-changers.

He said: “The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has been consistent in warning the police service and Government of the perils of restricting the only entry routes into the service to either current degree holders or to those who have to gain a degree through an apprenticeship.

“We should always remain open to all people, regardless of their academic abilities. As long as they can, with training, become an excellent officer who is able to serve their communities with distinction and can investigate and solve crimes, that is all that matters.

“Being a great cop doesn’t include being able to write a dissertation. It makes no sense to miss out on excellent people from our community who would be great police officers.”

He added: “I hope this now means that we will have a mix of entry routes into policing. Some people may not want to do a degree but will nonetheless be top cops.”