Twenty new officers on the beat thanks to Levy Share Programme support
“I was proud to welcome the latest new recruits and can’t wait to see how they learn and develop as they progress through the course. As a force, we very grateful for the support from Warwickshire County Council.
Twenty new police constables have begun their careers with Warwickshire Police thanks to funding from Warwickshire County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme.
The 20 new officers joined the force on September 30th when they began training at its Leek Wootton headquarters on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) programme.
Their arrival is a huge boost to police resources across the county and the County Council’s funding support has been crucial to their recruitment. WCC’s Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme is sponsoring 20 Bsc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice (Level 6) courses at £24,000 each over a three-year period with a total contribution of £480,000 donated.
That contribution is a substantial one to the force’s work towards keeping Warwickshire’s communities safe. Warwickshire Police currently has 152 officers at various stages of their apprenticeships - a high number which results in the force requiring far more Levy funding than it contributes. In 2023/24 the force contributed £448,317 in levy to central government and used £1,207,154 to support its apprentices. This created a 5% levy funding shortfall of £36,780 for the force to find from its own budget, on top of the large 95% contribution from central government. The support from Warwickshire County Council has filled this shortfall.
The PCDA training focuses on practical learning and is specifically designed to prepare trainees for policing. Officers start their journey at the force’s Leek Wootton training base for their first few weeks, before beginning their time in frontline policing teams.
There is also an element of classroom-based studying, delivered in-force by the Institute of Policing at the University of Staffordshire, which equips trainees with the skills and knowledge needed to be a police officer. However, trainees are employed as police officers from day one and spend the vast majority of their time on the frontline with experienced officers.
Throughout their training, officers undertake a number of operational deployments including Response, Neighbourhood Policing and Investigations. They are supported every step of the way with coaching and tutoring, working alongside experienced officers throughout. At the end of three years, they gain a BSc (Hons) Degree in Professional Policing Practice.
The new intake continues to boost the number of police officers in Warwickshire to help protect people from harm. In the last month, the force has welcomed more than 40 new starters, including the 20 apprentices, which takes the number of officers to the highest in its history.
Warwickshire Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith said: “I was proud to welcome the latest new recruits and can’t wait to see how they learn and develop as they progress through the course. As a force, we are very grateful for the support from Warwickshire County Council.
“We’re aiming to build a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Whether it’s service industry workers, former cadets or ex-military, our PCDA students come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and bring with them a wealth of different experiences and skills that they’ll draw on to help support the communities of Warwickshire.”
Dr Nick Howe, Director of the Institute of Policing at the University of Staffordshire, said, “Through our work with Warwickshire Police, we are committed to delivering innovative, high-quality training programmes like the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), which ensures that our police apprentices are equipped with both practical experience and academic expertise.
“This collaborative approach not only enhances the skills of new recruits but also strengthens the communities they serve by fostering a workforce that is well-prepared to handle the complexities of modern policing.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “Our police force does incredible work to protect our communities and I am delighted that the County Council’s Levy Share Programme has supported 20 new officers to start their careers and add to all the brilliant work that the force does day in and day out.”