Training
As a police officer, you're in a position of real responsibility. There will be times when your personal judgement, legal knowledge and resourcefulness will be fiercely challenged, in situations that can come right out of the blue. Be it a crowd disorder, a high-street robbery or a serious traffic accident, the public will be relying on you to know what to do. You can't afford to let them down. So from the word go, you can expect your training to push you to the limit. 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 1-17
Induction
Four weeks training at Stevenage covering staff protection, Airwave radio and an introduction to the Constabulary. Student officers are sworn in on the last Wednesday of the course.
Letchworth Phase
Twelve weeks training delivered at Letchworth police station. 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.
Part 2 weeks 18-42
Four six-week modules, consisting of a week in class and five weeks on operational attachment. The modules are Community, 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.
Community
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
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 a performance driven structured career framework, which is designed to equip officers with the skills necessary for command and leadership roles. It is run centrally by the Home Office, and provides successful applicants with an exciting range of career opportunities.
You do not need to be a graduate to apply for this scheme.
To be considered you must first have passed the selection procedure for entry to the force as a probationary constable. You can apply for the HPDS immediately or you can wait until you have joined the force and started your training.
Your HPDS application will be assessed against the competencies used for the rank of superintendent. Your first step is to complete a competency based application form. If you are assessed as suitable you will undertake a series of written tests and then, finally, you will be invited to attend a two day assessment centre.
To find out more about the HPDS please telephone our Recruitment Hotline on 01707 354203.
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