Once you have been appointed, you will be on probation as a student officer for two years.

All of your training takes place in Norfolk and is divided into four phases:

• Introduction
• Community Engagement
• Legislation (Procedure and Guidelines) and Supervised Patrol
• Independent Patrol.

The content of each stage is detailed further on.

Leave
The training programme has two weeks annual leave built in, but once you are independent you can take the remainder of your leave as duties allow. Over the Christmas period the whole of the training programme closes down for a week.

 

Phase 1 - Introduction

For the first phase of training, you will spend three weeks at police headquarters at the Operations and Communications Centre (OCC) in Wymondham.

The modules covered in this phase include:

• health and safety
• first aid
• race and diversity
• ethics and values
• information technology
• problem solving
• team working.

You will also have three days of basic personal safety training and start looking at social, community and neighbourhood policing in order to prepare you for the next phase of your training.

 

Phase 2 – Community Engagement

You will spend two weeks in a Professional Development Unit (PDU) in either Norwich, Thetford or Great Yarmouth (depending on which station you are going to be based at).

You will get to know your tutor and supervisor as well as the PDU staff and station and be given information about the local community make-up and the role the local police play.

You will spend the remainder of time with a local community group.

 

Phase 3(a) – Legislation

This phase is for 12 weeks and is based at the OCC in Wymondham. You will be given the knowledge you need to go out on supervised patrol and members of the community may attend as guest speakers or role players.

This phase also includes a day of police support unit training and the rest of your personal safety and information technology training.

You will then have a week's holiday.

 

Phase 3(b) – Supervised Patrol

This is for 12 weeks and takes place at one of the PDUs.
You will be assigned a tutor on a one-to-one basis who will support you for the remainder of your probation.

During this phase of the training you will be given time to complete your Student Officer Learning and Development Portfolio (SOLAP). You will also attend a one-week classroom-based course where you will be taught the legislation on subjects such as Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) using live local data.

At the end of the 12 weeks you will be ready to go out on independent patrol.

You will then have another week's holiday.

 

Phase 4 – Independent Patrol

This includes the following:

• Critical Incident course.
  This is for one week and is held at the OCC in Wymondham.
• Foot Patrol
  This is for four weeks and is based at your PDU. If your area has a neighbourhood policing scheme, then you will also spend some time on that.
• Driving Course
  This is for three weeks and takes place at the OCC in Wymondham. You will learn how to drive to Police Standards.
• Protected Independence
  You will spend another six weeks at your PDU and then transfer to your station. During the remainder of your two-year probation, you will complete your SOLAP and an attachment programme. You will also attend two more courses at OCC covering legislative and operational subjects. These include sexual offences, drugs and any optional subjects that are relevant to your area, such as wildlife and countryside. You will also have another four to five days of community involvement in areas that are more demanding than those in Phase 2 of your training.
• Completion of Training
  By the end of your two-year probation, you will have achieved:
  - a NVQ level 3 and 4 in Policing. The NVQ qualification will give accreditation for prior learning towards a degree.
  - Professionalising the Investigation Process Level 1 (PIP) and
  -confirmation in the rank of Police Constable.
• Course Evaluation
  At the end of your two-year probation and, after you have been passed for confirmation, there will be another two days at OCC to evaluate the whole curriculum. It will also include a class congratulations (Passing Out Ceremony) from a member of the Executive team.

You will continue to be evaluated throughout your career as a police officer.

 

If you would like any further information, please contact the Recruitment Team by telephoning 01953 425699 Ext. 2310 / 2311 or by emailing recruitment@norfolk.pnn.police.uk, or visit the Police Could You website.