ʻItʼs Not “Uni” Work, itʼs Essential Learning to be a Police Officerʼ: Examining the Higher Education Elements of Police Education Qualifications Framework Programmes

Abstract

The two ʻpost entryʼ programmes of the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF); the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and Degree Holder Entry Programme (PCDA) have now been running for a few years, to the point where several learning points have been identified. This article discusses these programmes from the point of view of a consortium of Higher Education Providers (HEPs) delivering, in partnership, with several England and Wales Police Forces in the real world. It examines how the Higher Education elements have been integrated (or not) into police recruit education, examines and addresses many of the learning points that have arisen and what work still remains to fully integrate higher education into the police recruit learning process.