HAMPSHIRE Constabulary is the first in the country to announce a change in how police officers can join the force. 

The county's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has campaigned for the end of the compulsory police entry degree due to believing that practical common sense and life skills are just as important as academic ability.  

On March 27, the force announced a new scheme called Policing PLUS, which will allow police officers to join via a non-degree entry route and current officers to also transfer onto this scheme. 

Launched by Chief Constable Scott Chilton, officers can leave the classroom behind to instead have an apprentice skills-based focus on learning on the job, in particular investigative skills. 

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Donna Jones, PCC and APCC National Victim’s lead, said: “Modern policing requires a mix of skills; common sense, people skills, academic acumen and a will to make a difference. Unfortunately, the compulsory police degree has put off a number of highly skilled men and women who would make brilliant police officers.

"Giving people a choice whether to complete a police degree or not, is the right thing to do. It’s more equal and will appeal to more diverse communities. We want to attract good people from a range of backgrounds."

The new scheme will be a fundamental part of the force with more than 750 of Hampshire's police force being students.

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Chief Constable Chilton said: “My focus is being tough on crime. I expect my cops to take direct action against criminals, and to do high-quality investigations. That requires us to train them in the right way. This change delivers that and gets hundreds of the extra police officers that we have recruited on our streets quicker.

"For a force like Hampshire, with a high percentage of student officers, this is a game changer freeing up to 100,000 hours of police officer time.

"Those who remain on our degree programme will be fully supported but we are losing too many competent operational officers who are either not ‘academic’ or too pressured when faced with a degree and being a full-time police officer."

The initial reaction to the Policing PLUS is being widely welcomed by student officers.