Collaborative training, research and development, student placements and projects will continue following a new agreement.
Dr Helen Poole, Glynn Dixon and Assistant Chief Constable Justin Bibby
“Graduates who have completed project work undertaken as part of their placements with Staffordshire Police have both increased their employability prospects and demonstrated what they can bring to the role. Importantly their work has helped inform police practice, ultimately helping in the fight against crime and protecting our communities.
The Staffordshire Forensic Partnership was launched in 2016 and early success from student placements has supported a vision of promoting safer communities in the county through forensic excellence.
A formal legal agreement was signed by representatives from Staffordshire University, Staffordshire Police and the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime to extend the partnership for a further five years.
The partnership is nationally recognised as a model to follow and has won two awards for its work. In 2017 the University won the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) and in 2019 the Partnership won the National Undergraduate Employability Award for the best collaboration between a university and an employer.
A good number of graduates involved in the Partnership now work in policing both in Staffordshire and further afield, as well as in private businesses involved in forensics.
Executive Dean in the School of Justice, Security and Sustainability, Dr Helen Poole said: “Graduates who have completed project work undertaken as part of their placements with Staffordshire Police have both increased their employability prospects and demonstrated what they can bring to the role. Importantly their work has helped inform police practice, ultimately helping in the fight against crime and protecting our communities.
"Our University academics also value the working relationships they have developed with police colleagues through Staffordshire Forensic Partnership and I look forward to what we can achieve collaboratively in the coming years.”
Assistant Chief Constable Justin Bibby said: “We’re delighted to be continuing with our partnership with Staffordshire University, and it is a privilege for us to give students the opportunity to gain relevant work experience through placements here at Staffordshire Police.
“The initiative also gives the force invaluable opportunities to be involved in research projects to scope and solve real issues in policing, as well as to develop tailor-made training and stay up-to-date with evolving techniques in the developing world of forensics. Together we are exploring new ways of working innovatively and adding to our forensic capability.”
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, added: “This initiative is important in providing the next generation of forensic scientists with the skills and experience they need, and supporting them to find rewarding careers that help to keep our communities safe and bring offenders to justice.”