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Policing students serve their communities as special constables
Twenty-four students from the policing foundation degree have been sworn in and deployed across the county as special constables.
Now in their second year of study, the new recruits are keen to put into practice what they’ve been learning in the classroom.
The course was established in 2008 in partnership with Cumbria Police who identified the importance of providing potential recruits with an alternative approach to a police career, one that gave them extensive real life experience.
Students attend the university full time, but in their second year they also serve as special constables with Cumbria Police on a voluntary basis. This provides them with real life practical experience to complement and enhance their academic studies.
Julian Parker is a serving police sergeant with Cumbria Constabulary and is currently seconded as an associate lecturer on the course. He explains: “To provide the students with as many practical opportunities as possible, attendance in their second year is limited to one intensive day’s study at the university. This allows them to demonstrate their commitment by serving as a special constable. This is no soft option.”
Student and special constable Josh Llewellyn (19) from Barrow-in-Furness says: “Our first year of study has prepared us well, but going out in the community will give us experience that can’t be taught in the classroom.”
Jodie Harrington (19) from Aspatria adds: “I’m really excited to be out on the beat wearing my special constable uniform and putting my first year studies into practice.”
Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham says: “It is great that these students have joined the Special Constabulary and I am sure that they will benefit from the hands-on experience and skills they’ll achieve from the role.”
Mother to lawyer – it’s all in a day’s work for intern Kirsty
A three-month internship was just the jump start Kirsty Hopley needed to begin her law career.
Single mum Kirsty completed her law degree at the university earlier this year and then landed her dream job with The Law Centre in Carlisle. After graduating from the university, she was employed by us on a three- month internship, gaining invaluable experience in the legal services department.
Kirsty, who has a 12-year-old son, Connor, has juggled the difficulties of her three-year degree course with being a single mother. Kirsty of Carlisle said: “I always intended to go to university. So I took the decision to leave my job, sell my house and move to Cumbria from Birmingham. I was delighted when I was accepted onto the course with the University of Cumbria.
“I found it very hard to start with as I had been out of education for ten years and childcare arrangements were difficult. However, my tutors were very supportive and I found a great childminder. I completed most of my study at night after Connor had gone to bed.”
Talking about her new job, Kirsty said: “I saw the job with The Law Centre advertised in the local newspaper and decided to go for it. My internship at the university gave me the confidence boost I needed to go for the interview and get the job.“
Kirsty has advice for anybody in a similar position to her own. “Mothers thinking of applying for university should go for it. Connor is so proud of me and I hope that he will follow my lead into higher education.”
Above: the university’s special constables with (far right) Julian Parker
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