First Police Foundation students in the UK to graduate

A unique celebration of achievement will take place at the University of Teesside on Wednesday 4 October, as 21 Cleveland police officers are confirmed in their posts and awarded Foundation Degrees. The cohort of 21 was the first to enrol on the University’s two-year Foundation Degree in Police Studies in September 2004. Cleveland was one of five pilot forces to take part in this new form of police training and will be the first in the UK to complete the Foundation Degree in Policing.

The officers’ friends and families will be attending the celebration, which takes place at the University’s Innovation Centre lecture theatre, off Stephenson Street, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday 4 October from 5pm-6.15pm. The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson, will award the degrees. Congratulation speeches will also be made by Ron Hogg, Cleveland Police’s Deputy Chief Constable and Robin Field-Smith MBE, from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Personnel, Training and Diversity. For photo opportunities please contact the Press & PR Office on 01642 342962 or e-mail pr@tees.ac.uk

The Foundation Degree was developed in partnership with Cleveland Police and combines practical on the beat training with rigorous academic work. The trainee police officers spend 34 weeks at the University, with another year at Cleveland Police’s Professional Development Unit.

Since September 2004, seven cohorts have enrolled on the Foundation Degree. The next set will graduate at Middlesbrough Town Hall in 2007. The University’s police training has been recently expanded to West Mercia Constabulary in the Midlands, who now train their new recruits through their Foundation degree in Professional Policing.

Ron Hogg, Cleveland Police’s Deputy Chief Constable said: “This graduation is the culmination of a great deal of hard work and dedication by both staff and students at the University of Teesside. It is a testament to the effectiveness of partnership working and the involvement of local communities.

“We are committed to ensure Cleveland Police are at the forefront of modern policing, supported by our Putting People First vision which drives our approach to staff development. These officers now have the highest level of education available in policing and this displays our desire to have the best trained and most efficient workforce available to ensure our public receive the best possible service from their police. I congratulate them for their achievements.”

Liz Barnes, Dean of the University’s School of Social Sciences & Law, which delivers the Foundation Degree, said: “I am delighted to see the first cohort of Police Officers graduating from the programme that I believe has become a flagship programme for the School of Social Sciences & Law. I am sure that Cleveland Police feel a sense of great pride in their innovative and insightful approach to Initial Police Training that is leading the way nationally.”

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