A NEW course at South Essex College is aiming to provide the next generation of police officers in Essex.
The college has linked up with Essex Police to offer a full-time, two-year diploma in policing. It is the first course of its kind in the country.
The first cohort of 26 students met officers from across the force during their induction week at Wellstead Park in Westcliff.
They enjoyed demonstrations from officers from our Dog Section and drone teams, an interactive presentation on protective equipment and defensive skills, and got insights into life as a crime scene investigator, a sergeant in Southend town centre, and as an inspector for Roads Policing.
Steve Davey of the Kent and Essex Police Serious Crime Directorate was building partnerships with local schools and colleges in his role as the team supervisor for Protect and Prevent when he was approached about contributing to the course.
Having taken a similar qualification before he started his policing career in the 1980s, Steve anticipates that the course will lead to a steady stream of knowledgeable future police officers who’ll be well-equipped to keep the streets of Essex safe.
He said: “People will have their own opinions as to what being a police officer is like but until you talk to police officers working across different departments, you won’t realise what is truly involved.
