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Policing, PEQF and the IoP

Our regional Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) partnership was formed to support delivery of the Policing Vision 2025. We deliver programmes in partnership with Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia Police.

Institute of Policing

Our mission

We strive to make a significant contribution to police professional practice and research in the areas of police education and training, leadership, investigation and innovation. 

Our expertise

  • Leadership
  • Investigation
  • Police Education
  • Police professionalisation on a national and global scale
  • Digital Innovations in Learning and Teaching
  • Large-scale delivery

Our partnership

We are proudly partnered with Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia Police as we deliver on the Policing Vision 2025.

We provide Police Constable Degree Apprenticeships (PCDA), Degree Holder Entry Programmes (DHEP), Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programmes (DCDHEP), and a Step Up to Policing programme under licence from the College of Policing.

Our impact

We currently have approximately 2,500 UK police officers on our programmes, rising to circa 3,000 officers by June 2022.

We have developed the UK's first Step Up to Policing programme to widen access to policing careers for those who would otherwise be disadvantaged.

Our Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programme was the first to recieve licencing permissions from the College of Policing.

Our Digital Inductions have successfully onboarded more than 2000 student officers since March 2020, insulating our partnership against the threat of COVID-19.

Policing

Our forces

We're proud partners of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia Police.

Policing vision

The Policing Vision 2025 shapes how our national police forces make decisions around transformation and how resources are used to keep he public safe. The nation's people are at the centre of the Vision and its ambition to serve the increasingly diverse communities of the UK.

College of Policing

The College of Policing is an operationally independent professional body for those working in policing. They:

  • support professional development
  • set standards
  • use evidence-based knowledge in developments
  • share good practice

PEQF

What is the PEQF?

The Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) aims to recognise the professionalism required of serving police officers as a degree-level skill, providing three pathways into policing which give new recruits the opportunity to achieve a degree or work in a recognised graduate-level role. The College of Policing states that the PEQF is: 'Creating a consistent high standard of training for all police officers whichever way they choose to join the force.'

Our PEQF programmes

Do you have to have a degree before joining the police?

No! The PCDA programme combines working as a police officer and academic study to complete a degree in Professional Policing Practice - at the end of your three-year probation, you'll have a policing career and a relevant degree. Alternatively, you can study full-time to complete your pre-join degree before joining your chosen force.

If you already have a degree, you could be eligible for the DHEP programme. 

PEQF impact

According to the College of Policing's report (Dcemeber 2021):

  • 36 of 43 Home Office police forces have implemented the PEQF routes into policing.
  • Nationally, 47% of new applicants are over 25.
  • 75% of revised training is practical and done whilst working as a police officer.
  • New recruit salaries are a minimum of £18,000 (increasing dependant upon force area.
  • Female recruitment is equal to male recruitment.
  • The recruitment of black, asian and other underrepresnted ethnicities within the profession are up from 6.9% to 8.2%. 
  • 89% of new recruits find the training relevant to the role. This is up from 77% of those responding about the old training programmes. 
in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021