Policing course sees first graduates

A TOTAL of 54 student officers who have completed the graduate diploma in professional police practice have taken part in an online ceremony hosted by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

UWTSD was one of the first universities in Wales to work with police forces to deliver the two new programmes under the new Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF): the police constable degree apprenticeship and a graduate diploma in professional police practice.

Working in collaboration with South Wales and Gwent police forces, the university is delivering these programmes to approximately 300 student officers through the Blue Light Academy, a centre for excellence to deliver a new professional framework for the training of emergency officers and staff.

Training for the South Wales Police and Gwent recruits is split between core police officer training at a joint training location in Bridgend, in partnership with the university to develop, assess and accredit the qualifications element of their studies.

Bronwen Williams, academic director at the university’s Institute of Management and Health said: “I am so proud to congratulate the first cohort to go through the new PEQF route.

“It has been a real challenge to merge the two worlds of academia and frontline policing and training, but I think this has been achieved by the excellent team working and collaboration that makes up the partnership between South Wales Police, Gwent Police and UWTSD.

“This first cohort has been instrumental in that development and their feedback has been invaluable.”

Jeremy Vaughan, Chief Constable of South Wales Police said: “The journey to this point was always going to be a challenge, but particularly so for this cohort who have also needed to adjust to restrictions brought by the pandemic.

“Members of this cohort should be extremely proud of what they have achieved in such difficult circumstances.”