Training

All new student officers undertake the two-year Compass training programme. This programme is structured around three distinct phases, designed to give new officers the best possible start to their careers.

• Part 1 weeks 1-16

  Open

  Induction & Letchworth Phase

  Initial training is delivered at Letchworth police station and lasts for 16 weeks.

  Inputs include basic offences, Constabulary procedures and IT training. Student officers are expected to participate in practical exercises, which are undertaken in and around Letchworth: crime, traffic, interviewing and custody. At the end of the course student officers participate in Operation Needle, which simulates patrol.

  Student officers are sworn in on Thursday of week 1. At the completion of their training there is a graduation ceremony at Police Headquarters.

  Week 17: annual leave

• Part 2 weeks 18-42

  Open

  Four six-week modules, consisting of a week in class and five weeks on operational attachment. The modules are Safer Neighbourhoods, Intelligence, Investigation and Street Skills. During this phase the student officers work with coaches and assessors who guide them through their attachments. Successful completion of the attachment phase results in the student officers being declared fit for independent patrol.

  Safer Neighbourhoods

  Class-based sessions include problem solving, crime reduction and youth issues. The week culminates in Exercise Resolve, a problem solving exercise.

  Intelligence

  Class-based sessions include surveillance, National Intelligence Model (NIM), intelligence interviews, warrants and op orders. The week culminates in Exercise Acuity, an exercise where student officers have to prepare an operational briefing.

  Investigation

  Class-based sessions include interviewing techniques, identification issues, dealing with solicitors and offences to be taken into consideration. The week culminates in a practical interviewing exercise.

  Street Skills (Intervention)

  Class-based sessions include IT training, initial crime scene preservation and forensics, crown and coroners court and working with the ambulance service.

• Part 3 weeks 43-104

  Open

  The student officers work independently on area as part of a shift or a team, undertaking five further weeks of formal class based training. As a result of the successful completion of this phase, they are confirmed in rank.

  Policing Serious Incident (PSI)

  This is a two-week course at about week 56 of service. It covers policing serious incidents, firearms and terrorism. The course culminates in Exercise Vigilant where student officers are given practical experience in dealing with terrorist strikes in partnership with local businesses.

  Interviewing Course

  This is a two week course at week 75 of service. It deals with investigative interviewing built on national guidelines encompassing Hertfordshire policy on interviewing and Achieving Best Evidence when dealing with vulnerable victims and witnesses.

  Initial Contact

  This is a four-day course at week 90 of service. This covers initial attendance at sexual offences and victim care up to and including the medical. It also explores rape trauma syndrome and male rape.

The High Potential Development Scheme

The High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) is an annual process aimed at people who would benefit from rapid development to senior positions within the organisation. Initially it is aimed at those officers who are identified as having the potential to reach Superintendent, with further assessments whilst on the scheme for potential to reach ACPO.

The HPDS is open to all constables and sergeants following successful completion of a rigorous selection process. This process starts with an in-Force assessment.

The HPDS is a very structured programme delivered with an academic partner (Warwick Business School), which leads to a nationally recognised Post Graduate Diploma and then a Masters Degree qualification. It will use a range of innovative approaches to challenge and equip future leaders. Participants in the scheme will have to consistently demonstrate the desire, commitment and the potential to reach senior officer levels.

This is a very demanding and intensive programme requiring a high degree of dedication and personal time, with a very competitive and stringent selection process – there will only be 60 places available every year nationally. To find out more about the HPDS, please call our Recruitment Hotline on 01707355415.