Degree students from all year groups joined Commissioner Snowden to hear him talk on different subjects from how Lancashire Police operates as an organisation, to how he works to hold the Chief Constable to account.
UCLan students were given the opportunity to ask the Commissioner a series of questions including if he would alter his Fighting Crime Plan priorities given the opportunity, and what are the biggest issues he faces in his role.
The Professional Policing course is just one is one of multiple routes into policing, including a non-degree entry route which Commissioner Snowden campaigned to have re-instated last year.
Commissioner Snowden also joined pupils on Runshaw College’s Policing Horizons programme to discuss their future ambitions in policing, whether that be as staff or an officer.
Speaking after, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said:
“It was fantastic to meet students at UCLan and Runshaw College who show such potential and enthusiasm for policing, and to listen to their experiences, as many of them will embark on careers in policing in Lancashire and beyond.
“In my role as Police and Crime Commissioner, I regularly meet with officers at all stages in their careers, and today’s visit was extremely promising for the future of Lancashire Police. I look forward to hopefully seeing many of the students I’ve met today again at future attestation ceremonies.
“I’m delighted that this year we exceeded our Police Uplift recruitment target in Lancashire, and I will continue to work alongside the Chief Constable to ensure more officers are recruited and retained into the ranks of Lancashire Police.”
Clive Tattum the Dean of the School of Law and Policing at UCLan and the Chair of the National HE Forum in Policing and its Board said:
“Lancashire Constabulary is a crucial civil partner of the university, and we have a long and successful history of working with them. At UCLan we are committed to improving Policing Education and we are continually enhancing our expertise as a Higher Education Institution National Lead with over 20 years’ experience.
“We were delighted that the Police and Crime Commissioner was able to attend, witness and comment on the outstanding calibre of our students. We are incredibly proud of our Professional Policing Degree students. We know the programme will equip them with the knowledge and skills to be first class public servants in Lancashire, ensuring they support the aims of the Commissioner and the Chief Constable.
“We are committed to supporting the Constabulary and the whole service on its professionalisation journey. We hope that by continuing to work together we can enhance the usage of all the initial entry routes to ensure that it attracts the best candidates from all backgrounds and equip officers with the skills needed to be part of one of the best Police Forces in the country and meet the complex policing challenges of the 21st Century.”
