Pre- Induction

This is a one-day course delivered four weeks prior to the start of the training. The day consists of a number of inputs regarding administrative and procedural issues to help you become familiar with the organisation. Perhaps more importantly you will receive some initial input on what your training is about and you will be introduced to distance and computer-based learning.

An assessment will be made of each student’s IT skills and arrangements made to assist those who need tuition in this area. You will be given a workbook to take away, containing a number of topics, which you will be expected to work through in the following four weeks.

Foundation Course

This is a seventeen-week course, taking place at training facilities within South Yorkshire. The course is primarily Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, but may include a few days of afternoon/evening working.

Courses that run over a bank holiday Monday may also include Saturday working. The leave day in these cases is re-rostered and taken in the week following the course. Under normal circumstances holiday leave will not be granted during the course.

During this time you will receive multiple inputs on law, practices and procedures and opportunities to demonstrate what you have learned in practical scenarios. Many of these practicals will be conducted in public places. This provides a more realistic setting and at the same time makes police training more open to the public.

An integral part of the police service today is greater acceptance of diversity in all its forms. This allows us to better serve the communities where we live and work. As a student officer you will need to demonstrate flexibility in dealing with people from many different backgrounds.

Leave week

Following the course all students take a compulsory week’s leave.

Tutored phase

The tutored phase enables you to deal with real situations with the full-time support of a qualified tutor constable. It is anticipated that tutoring will last around eight weeks, but this is completely dependent on the individual. While dealing with real events you will be assessed as to suitability for independent patrol. The Police Action checklist (PAC) identifies a number of situations, which each student officer needs to have experienced. By completing the checklist you demonstrate that you have a reasonable understanding of how you need to operate on independent patrol.

Attachment to Local Policing Team

South Yorkshire Police and the police service as a whole, increasingly focuses on problem oriented approaches to particular issues. We are more focused on issues of importance to local communities and often work in partnership with other agencies.

To gain a better understanding of how this happens each student officer works with a local policing team for a minimum of two weeks. With some 25 weeks of training already completed you may well have to patrol independently and deal with problems that arise. But you will have the support of a team of officers who are familiar with the local area and all its issues.

Independent Patrol

Some student officers may remain on a local policing team, while others will be posted to a reactive duty group. In either case you will now routinely undertake patrol duties throughout the remainder of your ‘probationary’ two-year period. Students are expected to continue to develop policing skills, supported by a minimum of 30 further days of directed learning.

This will be a combination of classroom, computer-based and project work, which will support achievement of 22 National Occupational Standards. The standards are determined by the Home Office, under the Skills For Justice programme, and achievement will be recognised by way of NVQ awards (Levels 3 and 4) in Policing.

Confirmation of Appointment

By achieving all 22 National Occupational Standards and also demonstrating competent performance in a live policing environment you will be confirmed in post and become a police officer.