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Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner is calling for a rethink of a national policy which means new recruits to the force either need to have a degree – or obtain one as part of their training.

Andrew Snowden says that neighbourhood policing roles – which are a key element of the current drive to boost officer numbers in the county – require “common sense” and communication skills, rather than a university qualification.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Police’s chief constable has warned that studying for a degree, alongside time spent walking the beat, can put trainee officers under “incredible pressure”.

Chris Rowley says that the need for them to combine degree work with on-the-job training also has an impact on frontline policing capacity during the time that they spend in class instead of out on the street.

Lancashire Constabulary is currently recruiting hundreds of new officers - but should they need to have, or get, a degree?

We put your questions to the Lancashire Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden - this...

Since the start of 2020, those interested in joining the police have generally had three options available to them.

Those who already have a degree – in any subject – can apply for a two-year degree-holder entry programme, which, in Lancashire, is available to those wanting to start out either as police constables or detective constables.

Aspiring officers can alternatively opt to study for a degree in professional policing before applying to join a force.

Andrew Snowden says he is lobbying for the reinstatement of a degree-free route into police forces like Lancashire, the county where he is the police and crime commissioner.

For those who have not been to university, there is the option to join by undertaking a three-year degree apprenticeship, which involves both academic study and practical learning on the beat.

During its current recruitment drive, Lancashire Police has been given temporary permission to take on a limited number of new officers via a previous entry route, under which successful applicants who are educated to a certain standard – usually two A-Levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications – complete a 21-week training course before hitting the streets as a police officer, in just 13 percent of the time it would take for them to gain a degree,

Andrew Snowden told the LDRS that he would like to “call time” on the requirement for a degree for every officer role – and said that he was lobbying at a national level for multiple routes into the police force.

“There is a huge role to play for degree-holder entry – it is a real fast track [for a] career into different areas of the police. I think higher education institutions like UCLan – [which] we partner on with lots of different projects, as well as training – have a role to play in the training of every officer.

New Lancashire police officers need 'common sense and people skills' rather than a degree, commissioner says