Tag: PCDA

Standing Against Racism & Inequality

Author Claire Bowers | Posted on

Author: Micah Hassall

This week, we are proud to share this insightful blog post about Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI), an organisation whose contributions have been invaluable to our Policing programme. Their sessions play a vital role in helping students understand the complexities of hate crime, discrimination, and the deep, lasting effects these issues have on individuals, families, and communities. 

For policing students, this learning is more than simply theoretical, it is foundational to professional practice. Future officers must be able to recognise when hate crime manifests, respond with fairness, transparency, and empathy, and demonstrate positive action that upholds community safety and public confidence. Every interaction an officer has, especially in the context of hate and discrimination, contributes either to building trust or eroding it. 

There have been overwhelmingly positive responses from Police students within the PCDA programme and DHEP:  

“The SARI team are great! They understood things from different perspectives and gave me real insight into hate crime and its effects on victims. It was a great input and I think it was needed. It was eye opening and good to learn about discrimination.”  

SARI’s work equips future officers with the insight needed to challenge discriminatory behaviours, support victims compassionately, and understand the wider societal contexts in which hate crime occurs. Their teaching reinforces the core values that underpin ethical policing in the UK: legitimacy, justice, equality, and procedural fairness. 

In the year ending March 2025, there were 115,990 hate crimes recorded by the Police in England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police Service). This is a 2% increase compared with the previous year (Home Office, 2025).

Below, you will find short responses from SARI team members who have been interviewed about the challenges faced by victims, the barriers to reporting, and the crucial role that policing plays in response and prevention. The team’s insights capture their lived experience of this important work and the lessons they believe future police officers should take forward. 

What does SARI’s mission mean ‘in practice’ for communities in Bristol and beyond? 

We see our mission as combatting racism and inequality in all its forms; through support, education, and advocacy.

We strive to create a society where everyone, regardless of their background, is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

In practice, this means that people have a trusted and safe space to turn to when they experience hate, and that there is an organisation which is by their side in the fight against hate. We have been doing this work for over 30 years.

What does a ‘day in the life’ look like for someone working at SARI? 

Our Project Workers provide a free casework service to victims of hate crime and hate incidents. They offer to see clients at their homes or at a place of their choice and will draw up a support plan for each person they work with. This may include speaking to the client’s housing provider, going into a school on behalf of a young person, or liaising with the police. Project Workers will also chair multi-agency meetings, ensuring that hate and the impact it is having on their client is high on the agenda. 

A great deal of time will be spent on the victim’s caseload, working with them as they navigate the aftermath of the hate experience, and ensuring they are regularly kept up-to-date with how their case is progressing.  

Each interaction will be different, but the aim is always the same; ensuring clients feel heard, validated, and supported.

Our Training and Education department, along with members of the casework team, work to raise awareness of hate and the impact it has, delivering sessions to schools, organisations and agencies, including the police. These sessions aim to build understanding around how to recognise and respond to hate.  

What are the most common challenges individuals face when reporting hate crime or discrimination, and how does SARI support them? 

There are numerous issues that people face when reporting hate or discrimination. This is why our support is so important, because it gives victims a safe space to be validated by people who understand the impact of hate.  

One of the biggest challenges is the fear that they won’t be believed, or that their traumatic experience of hate will not be taken seriously.

 There can also be a lack of trust in institutions, such as the police, amongst some of the communities we work with, especially if they have had poor interactions with them in the past, or if the hate has come from within the police. In these cases, we do the reporting on their behalf, and work with them so that by the end of their time with SARI, they feel empowered and confident to report themselves.  

What misconceptions about racism or hate crime do you encounter most often, and how do you challenge them? 

There can be a lack of awareness around different cultures and communities, which then influences the bias that someone may have regarding an another person’s behaviour. We challenge this through our training, where we speak about misconceptions. 

What role does educating police students at UWE play in preventing hate crime, and what initiatives does SARI offer? 

We believe that education is fundamental to the work that we do here at SARI. Promoting social cohesion and the understanding of communities from diverse backgrounds is inherent for a better, more just society.

We feel it is essential that people with influence and power, who work with some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, understand the challenges and barriers that they face on a day-to-day basis. 

A lot of the work we do here at SARI is around the Equality Act 2010 and the sessions that we deliver to the police students at UWE is mostly based on lived experience.  

We offer a free casework service to any person who perceives that they have been targeted with a hate crime or a non-crime hate incident due to one of their protected characteristics. 

We also deliver training and education sessions to schools, colleges, organisations, and agencies, raising awareness of the impact of hate and how to respond to it. We attend strategic and multi-agency meetings, holding agencies to account and exploring trends of hate crime and non-crime hate incidents to ensure that we are where we need to be.  

What advice would you give to someone who witnesses or experiences a hate crime or incident? 

If it is an emergency, please call 999. If you are a witness of, or a victim of a hate incident, we encourage you to report it to SARI and to the police. We have compiled a useful resource for people if they encounter hate. 

Banner taken from the SARI website

How do you make a referral to SARI?  

You can make a referral via our website or by calling us on 0117 942 0060.  

We also run an out-of-hours service where you can leave a message, and someone will get back to you.  

What is SARI’s vision for the future? What changes do you hope to see in the next five years? 

It sounds cheesy but, we would like to see people be kinder to each other, respect and value difference. At the moment it feels like there is so much division, which is playing out in day-to-day interactions and seriously impacting how safe and welcome people feel in our communities. 

Practically, we would like to see tackling hate crime and incidents become a statutory duty in line with domestic abuse.

Hate has such a devastating impact across our communities, leaving people afraid to go out of their houses, go to school, live their lives and in the worst-case scenarios, hate crime kills.

 It is therefore imperative that hate crimes are addressed with the gravity they demand. 

Thank you so much to the team at SARI for providing these valuable insights. Your work continues to be a vital part of their learning journey, and it’s a privilege to have you involved in the Policing programmes at UWE.

To end this blog, we would like to leave you with some feedback from the lecturing team, reflecting student comments and the experiences that they have shared with them:

“I just wanted to say a sincere thank you for the sessions you delivered yesterday. Your input was incredibly valuable, and the impact on our students was clear and deeply appreciated.”

“The feedback from your session was especially positive, students spoke highly of the relevance, openness, and the opportunity to engage with such important and challenging topics.”

If you would like to learn more about SARI and what they do, you can visit their website at SARI – Stand Against Racism & Inequality.

References

Home Office (2025) Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-year-ending-march-2025 (Accessed: 6 March 2026)

Editorial team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief), Claudia McCready (Lecturer), Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer), Eve Smietanko (Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).

National Apprenticeship Week

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

To mark the NAW2026 Apprentice Wednesday theme, we are sharing another snapshot of life on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA). In this blog, apprentice officer Tom Owen from our June24 cohort, reflects on the variety and pace of frontline policing, busts a common myth about the journey into the role, and explains how academic learning, reflective practice and real-world experience combine, often under pressure, to shape professional judgement. Over to Tom…

Favourite part of the role

Variety – no two days feel the same. You might be writing coursework, reflecting on your experiences one day, and the next you’re then seeing how the theory translates into practice as you juggle safety, legislation, and investigation at the scene of a roadside collision. That overlap between academic thinking and frenetic frontline policing is demanding, but it makes the PCDA feel like real professional development, not just policing with university on the side.

One Myth to bust

It’s a long road to becoming a police officer. That’s definitely not been my experience. Day one, its impressed upon you that you’re an officer – with the accountability and responsibility that comes with it. The expectations are rightly high even as you learn the basics.

Day in the life

There’s no standard day, and no easy ones either! You might be on a nine-hour shift, with no possibility of rest and no guarantee of finishing on time. During that you’ll work collisions, assaults, thefts, and anything else that you’re thrown at and whether you’re with your tutor (in the early days) or out on your own, you’re constantly applying what you’ve learned to some really chaotic situations. You may never have experienced real conflict before, but you’ll suddenly find yourself trying to remember how a complex piece of legislation fits the circumstances you find yourself in and gets you to a good outcome for the people involved. If you’re not on shift and back in an academic cycle the pressure doesn’t lessen. Sure, you may not be in harm’s way, but you’ll have assignments and deadlines that keep the pressure on. It’s so important to find ways of balancing it all, managing that stress, but it’s worth it. It really is.

Top 3 learning moments

Reflective writing helps you. It feels strange and perhaps less than relevant when you begin writing reflections as part of the apprenticeship programme. Lean into it: It’s a crucial skill. It teaches you to take a moment and breathe, to learn what you can from a situation and to recognise the things that are within (or beyond) your control. You’ll need that every day you’re on duty.

Keep de-escalating. Find new ways to try to calm a situation. Even if you’ve tried, even if you’re repeating yourself, even while you’re having to physically intervene just keep trying to calm them.

Theory and Practice: it’s fair to say that some models you look at in university don’t quite land cleanly out in the world. Policing is messy and chaotic and you’ll scratch your head trying to find the relevance of a particular model. Take the pieces of each of them that apply to a situation though and you’ll quickly find yourself building better ways of approaching problems that come up again and again.

Challenges

The hardest part of the process is workload. The University periods seem well contained, but managing your reflective practice and selecting evidence to meet competencies while being bounced from incident to incident can prove challenging. The work of response policing alone can be challenging to be honest, if somewhat expected. The best advice is to speak with your tutor and supervisor early and check in if you need to.

Advice for applicants

Get comfortable with planning your work in advance – even on district. If you have investigations, you’re managing then understand who you need to speak to, where you need to go to advance them and do it before the radio calls you to the next demand on your time. It’s fair that even the best laid plans rarely survive a busy shift but keep a record of outstanding tasks and get to them when you can – it’ll save you a headache later as you try to catch up and the radio’s calling.

Thanks to Tom for sharing such an honest and thoughtful snapshot of life on the PCDA. If you are interested to find out more, you can follow these links to #NAW2026 and the Police degree apprenticeship route.

Editorial team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).

National Apprenticeship Week: Employer Tuesday

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2026 through today’s Employer Tuesday theme, we are spotlighting the partnership behind UWE Bristol’s Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA). In this blog, Jane Exon, Apprenticeship Employer Development Manager for the Police Programme, offers a behind-the-scenes look at how UWE works with Avon and Somerset Police to support recruits from onboarding to completion, delivering a high-quality, compliant programme that develops confident, competent officers.

Meet Jane

Hi! I’m Jane Exon, and within our Apprenticeship Team I look after the Police Programme. In my role as Apprenticeship Employer Development Manager, I work closely with our Associate Director Anne Eason, Programme Leads, and Avon and Somerset Police to make sure every recruit gets off to a smooth and supported start. From onboarding through to completion, we’re here to help keep the programme compliant, high quality, and focused on giving apprentices the best possible experience.

What is the PCDA?

The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) was created nationally for people recruited to become serving police officers. It’s a brilliant, transformational route for new recruits who want to grow into confident, capable, and community focused police professionals. The programme blends academic study, operational experience, and personal development, helping apprentices build the skills they need from day one.

Ensuring compliance and quality

Running an apprenticeship isn’t just about teaching and training, it also means staying fully compliant with Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding rules and apprenticeship regulations.

Our PCDA is fully mapped to the official Level 6 Police Constable apprenticeship standard. This ensures every required knowledge, skill and behaviour is delivered and assessed properly, consistently, and in line with national expectations.

At the very start the apprentices and employer receive a full training plan. This includes everything that counts towards off the job learning — academic modules, placements, skills sessions, and blended learning activities. Everything is carefully mapped to ESFA rules so apprentices always know what they’re working towards.

Working with the force

As an employer focused university, partnership is at the heart of what we do. We work closely with Avon and Somerset Police to make sure the communication stays open and supportive for both the force and the apprentices.  We do this through regular meetings throughout the programme to support apprentice progress.  Therefore, any issues are picked up early so we can work together by ongoing collaboration to provide a positive journey from recruitment to graduation.

What success looks like by graduation

At UWE Bristol, we’re incredibly proud of the work we do together — our staff, our partners at Avon and Somerset Police, and of course, our apprentices. By combining our strengths, we’re able to deliver an apprenticeship that truly supports people to thrive in their policing careers.  By the end of the apprenticeship, we see our graduates go on to become well rounded police officers who are:

•            Strong communicators

•            Evidence led decision makers

•            Skilled at assessing and managing risk

•            Ethical and community focused

•            Confident in applying academic learning to real world policing situations

It’s a rewarding role being in the apprenticeships team and the small part we have supporting the next generation of police officers and of course all our apprentices across the various programmes, continuing to strengthen our employer partnership. 

Our thanks to Jane for this employer insight and to all those working in support of the PCDA programme. If you are interested to find out more, you can follow these links to #NAW2026 and the Police degree apprenticeship route.

Editorial team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).

PCDA Students go International: PC’s Kennedy Marlow and Fay Workman Reflect on International Project Week in Germany

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

Each year, a unique opportunity brings together police students and lecturers from across Europe for a week of international collaboration and learning. This year, UWE Bristol Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) students Kennedy Marlow and Fay Workman from Avon and Somerset Police joined 34 fellow attendees from nine European countries at the renowned Rheinland-Pfalz Police Academy in Germany for the International Project Week (IPW), held from 19 -23 May 2025.

Hosted in the scenic southwestern region of Germany, the IPW is more than just an academic exchange, it’s an immersive, hands-on experience that allows officers to compare how policing is practiced across borders. Students are split into six diverse, multinational teams, each led by a final-year German police student. These groups spend the week diving deep into police powers and procedures such as vehicle and identity checks, searches, use of force, culminating in team presentations at the end of the week.

In this blog, Kennedy and Fay share their experiences of the week which offers a fascinating insight into how international collaboration can shape our understanding of good policing, both at home and abroad.

What were your first impressions when you arrived in Germany and met the local officers?

Kennedy: We properly met the other student officers on day one, when we were split into groups. Fay and I split, giving us the best opportunity to mingles and not stick together! My group included four German officers and four others from across Europe. The Germans were incredibly warm and welcoming, and our group gelled faster than you can say “Bratwurst.” Their humour was sharp, their English flawless, and thankfully, their sarcastic Brexit jokes translated perfectly.

Fay: When I first arrived, I was immediately shocked at the grounds of the academy as it was an old air force base, it was such a beautiful place. I was nervous to meet all the other officers from European countries who I was sharing a flat with for the week. After a few hours, we attended a welcome lecture, and I could immediately see how welcoming the German officers were as well as the officers from all the other countries.

Can you describe a typical day during the exchange? What kinds of activities did you take part in?

Fay: So, every day was different. Some days we were doing a few hours of classroom discussion and scenario-based work. This was super interesting as it gave us a chance to compare powers and policies between countries and how we apply them to each scenario.

Other days consisted of visiting their local police station and seeing a training demonstration from the dog handlers, eyeing up their German fleet, having a look at their custody cells and getting to meet their helicopter squadron. We would regularly play sport in the evenings with all the German students and other exchange students, followed by a few beers in their bistro bar, playing drinking games all together.

Kennedy: The morning started early at around 06:30, having to share a shower with four other girls was really survival of the fastest. Breakfast ran until 07:30 and by 08:00 we were in our groups, speaking through scenarios and how each country would use their policy and powers, quickly learning Bulgaria really play by their own rules.

Lunch was like going back to primary school, two options, Veggie and meat. All provided and paid for by the German Academy, even fed steak one lunch!

This day was then followed by an afternoon of trying and testing the German PPE and hand-to-hand combat, showcasing each counties techniques in dealing with restraint and arrests of non-compliant subjects.  It was like a Eurovision of tactical takedowns—minus the glitter, plus a few bruises. I’ve certainly got a few new tricks for the streets of North Bristol.  

Then every evening we came together in the bar on campus and spoke about work, life and everything in between, all powered with the very respectfully priced alcohol served by the loveliest barman.

Are there any policing methods or approaches in Germany that stood out to you?

Kennedy: One of the most eye-opening moments was our visit to the custody centre in Koblenz.

We were shown a few cells, which were incredible basic, a hole in the floor for a toilet, a slab for a bed, no blankets, no cameras in the cells and only one option for food, cheese on bread served with water, made by the inmates at a nearby prison. Later that evening, we chatted with the other students about custody procedures, and when we mentioned the idea of a “constant” (an officer monitoring detainees), the German officers looked genuinely puzzled. It was one of those moments where you realise just how different our systems really are.

Another standout feature was a massive holding cell designed for up to 30 detainees—used after large-scale public order incidents, like football matches. What really surprised us was that the detainees would be left in there together, unsupervised. No officers. Just 30 people, one room, and a lot of tension. It sounded less like a custody suite and more like the start of a very intense reality show.

In complete stark to their very traditional thinking for detainees, the flip side was finding out that the German Academy use VR to simulate situations before going out into the ‘real world’. Clearly very forward thinking in their use of technology. Albeit when I had a go, I felt very motion sick and nearly fell flat on my face.

Fay: The way they deal with mental health stood out the most, they completely took a back seat, there was no such thing as a “constant” at hospital or custody as their health service would take the lead there.  They also would force drink drivers to give blood if they refused blood and this would include being strapped to a bed and taken by force. They also must speak to a prosecutor’s office before entering a property to get permission and are forbidden to do so between 10pm and 6am unless to save life or limb….no 5am arrest attempts.

How did the experience challenge or change your perspective on policing?

Kennedy: One recurring theme throughout the exchange was the reaction I got when explaining what it’s like to be a police officer in the UK. I lost count of how many times I was told I must be mad to sign up for a role where I’m often solo-crewed, unarmed, and without a Taser (for now…). It was a real eye-opener to see how differently policing is structured and perceived across Europe.

That said, the experience gave me a renewed appreciation for British policing. It’s easy to feel worn down in the job and focus on the negatives, but after so many conversations with officers from other countries,

I came back feeling encouraged. We have a lot to be proud of—particularly in areas like legislation, communications, and conflict management.

What was the most memorable moment during your time with the German Police?

Fay: I think for me, it was the day we went for a hike through the most beautiful forests and went to a local BBQ barn restaurant, followed by a party on the final evening to say our goodbyes. It was so sad to say goodbye as I felt we had made genuine friendships with people from all over Europe.

Kennedy: It’s hard to pick just one moment—there were so many positive and genuinely fun experiences throughout the exchange. But what I look back on most fondly are the evenings we spent together as a group. The weather was warm, the company was brilliant, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Most evenings started with a game (or several) of volleyball—something that quickly became a highlight of the trip. Although I was diabolical, the German officers were fiercely competitive but also incredibly welcoming, turns out, my enthusiasm counts for something, even if my hand-eye coordination doesn’t.

Did you notice any significant differences in how the police engage with the public in Germany compared to Avon & Somerset Police?

Kennedy: This one’s a bit tricky to answer, as we didn’t do a traditional “ride along” or observe frontline interactions with the public. However, one thing that really stood out was during the hand-to-hand combat training. Some of the takedown techniques demonstrated by the German students were… let’s just say, bold. I couldn’t imagine using some of them back home—not because they weren’t effective, but because of the potential for injury, especially to the head/neck. In British policing we’re very conscious of the scrutiny around use of force, and rightly so. If someone ends up injured, we’re held accountable, and every action must be justified.

When I explained this to the German officers, they seemed genuinely puzzled. Their response was words to the effect of, “they shouldn’t commit crimes then”. It was a stark reminder of how cultural attitudes and policies shape our policing styles. Where we might tread carefully, they take a more direct approach. Neither is necessarily right or wrong—it just highlighted how differently we’re trained to think.

Fay: There were huge differences. Most of the powers and policies and policing tactics were different. Rules differed, especially with powers of entry in the night-time and how they deal with vulnerable people. The biggest difference though was the availability of PPE equipment and a no single crewing policy for patrol. The UK were the only country unarmed which completely shocked every other country. I felt that the other countries would resort to their firearm in circumstances that UK officers wouldn’t even be drawing their incapacitant spray due to fear of persecution from the public. However, they couldn’t quite believe that we attend jobs, pull over cars and arrest people with no taser or firearm.

How has this experience influenced your development as a student officer?

Fay: Being able to gather an insight into policing from over 10 different countries was completely invaluable and a once in a career opportunity. It helped me realise that although every country does things differently, our way isn’t always the best way, and that there is always something to learn from others. My confidence in my policing grew, having to demonstrate our PPST training, conduct presentations on our powers and policies and live with officers.

Kennedy: It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible—new country, new people, new ways of thinking. It gave me the chance to reflect on how I approach situations, especially when comparing how other countries manage conflict, communication, and even training. It’s definitely made me a more well-rounded officer and probably a slightly (very, very slightly) better volleyball player too.

The Chief Constable Sarah Crew has thanked both of you for your advocacy of the force. How did it feel to represent UWE and Avon & Somerset Police policing on an international platform?

Kennedy: Honestly, it was a bit surreal—but in the best way. There’s something quite special about sitting in a room full of officers from across Europe and realising you’re one of two officers representing not just A&S and UWE, but the United Kingdom. It was a proud moment.

I was acutely aware of how un-articulate I can be at times and when everyone’s looking at you to be the shining example of the Queen’s English, the pressure is definitely on. Hopefully, when I presented our group work to the lecture theatre, my West Country accent didn’t come through too thick…

Fay: It felt great to have this opportunity, as I know it was a once in a career event. As soon as I was chosen to go, I was very excited and apprehensive on what an international project week would entail. We both did a presentation in front of everyone in the lecture hall on British policing and the differences, which was cool to be able to explain to them how we work.

Would you recommend this experience to other PCDA students, and if so, why?

Fay: Yes of course. Like I said, it’s a once in a career opportunity and gives you insight into policing all over Europe. Its invaluable.

Kennedy: Absolutely—without hesitation. It was one of the best trips I’ve had the privilege of going on. It’s a unique opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, learn from others, and gain a fresh perspective on policing. You’ll come back with new skills, new friends, and a renewed sense of pride in the responsibility and risk we carry as British police officers.

Fay and I had the honour of presenting their Chief with an Avon and Somerset Police plaque as a gesture of gratitude and goodwill. We expressed how thankful we were to be their guests and acknowledged the incredible amount of effort and organisation that went into making the week such a success.

The Editorial Team would like to say a massive thank you and well done to Kennedy & Fay. You are both a credit to your force and we wish you well back out on the streets.

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

Editorial Note: GDPR consent obtained for use of all images posted within this blog.

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week: Spotlight on a UWE Lecturer and Special Constable

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, a time to recognise the incredible contributions of volunteers across the UK, we’re proud to shine our spotlight on Jack James, a UWE Policing Senior Lecturer, PhD researcher, and long-serving Special Constable. In this Q&A, Jack shares his journey into policing, what volunteering as a Special Constable means to him, and how this unique dual role helps both his academic and operational work. His story is a powerful reminder of the dedication, resilience, and impact of those who give their valuable time to serve their local communities.

You can find out more about Volunteers’ Week here

Volunteers’ Week celebrates the contribution of millions of people across the UK. What does it mean to you personally to volunteer as a Special Constable?

For me, it is a fantastic way of giving something back to the community. It is a volunteering role like no other, in terms of responsibility and risk, however it is something I have loved doing for the last almost 10 years, and it has enabled me to help make a real difference at times.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey into policing — what motivated you to become a Special Constable?

I became a Special Constable to do something that I felt would help make a difference, as well as with the intention of potentially joining the police full time; almost a decade and 7000 operational policing hours later, I am still volunteering and thoroughly enjoy doing so!

What does a typical shift look like for you as a Special Constable?

I love this question, as I think the answer is that there isn’t a ‘typical shift’ per-se. Reflecting on just a couple of my experiences, one shift I have been responding to 999 calls on the dog unit, dealing with anything from theft to disorder and violence; the next I have been on response and involved in a lifesaving intervention with a person in crisis; the next I have been in the middle of hundreds of violent protesters and counter protesters with just a handful of officers (to name just a few examples!). Special Constables often go to the exact same jobs as their regular counterparts.

How do you balance your role as a lecturer with volunteering as a Special Constable? Do the two roles inform each other?

Being a Special Constable is quite unique in terms of work-life balance, as not only do you have a full-time career, but you also have the responsibility of being a warranted police officer. It takes time to strike that balance; however, I find that forces are generally supporting and encouraging of the fact that family, friends and your career come before your voluntary role. I feel that my career and role as a Special Constable complement each other well. I can bring operational learning and practice into the classroom, which I feel is received well by students. I like the phrase ‘pracademic’, as I feel it sums up where I sit quite nicely.

You’re currently doing PhD research into the retention of Special Constables. What sparked your interest in this area, and what are you hoping to uncover?

When I started to explore volunteering in policing as a research area a couple of years ago, I was shocked to discover just how much of a significant and sustained decline in Special Constables there had been, and continues to be, since it’s height in 2012. The loss of ~14,000 officers (Home Office, 2025) seemed to me like something that needed to be explored and understood, and with such a significant decline, it would not be an unreasonable position to suggest that the Special Constabulary is facing an existential crisis. That, combined with my own lived experiences over the last decade or so as a Special Constable, really motivated me to propose to research this issue at doctoral level, as I feel it is important to do so. My hope is to create an evidence base on why people join, their experiences as a Special Constable, and their reasons for leaving, to hopefully contribute to the future sustainability of the Special Constabulary in England and Wales. 

From your research so far, are there any early insights you can share about why people stay or leave the Special Constabulary?

I often hear the anecdote that “most specials I know join up as regulars”, as a means of explaining the decline in numbers or lack of retention. Interestingly, that conversion rate however has sat at around 40% for around two decades (Britton, 2018). Furthermore, the median length of service for a Special Constable is just 2.2 years, so the majority do not become ‘long serving’ or ‘career Specials’ (Britton, 2024). Research also indicates that the uplift programme has had little impact on Special Constable recruitment, so the knowledge gap is essentially ‘where do the rest go, and why?’. There has not been any qualitative research specifically on Special Constabulary leavers since 1994, which indicated that what leavers were telling forces during exit interviews – often a change in personal circumstances – often did not match what leavers were then telling researchers – feelings of dissatisfaction with the role, a lack of training and investment, police culture towards Special Constables (Mirrlees-Black and Byron, 1994). Policing has changed a lot since, then, however it will be interesting to see if those themes from interviews in the 90’s have also changed. There is some great research on ‘long serving’ Special Constables by Dr Iain Britton that I would recommend to anyone interested in that area specifically.

What do you think policing organisations and higher education institutions can do to better support Special Constables?

I think one of the main issues to address now is the continuing decline in numbers nationally. I feel that policing and academia working together to understand this phenomenon and implement evidence-based change is the best way to better support Special Constables at present.

How do PCDA students respond to hearing about your frontline experience as a volunteer police officer?

I generally feel that student officers respond well, and hope that my operational experiences as a Special Constable are relatable to them. I find that my roles complement each other well, and that it is often beneficial to bring some of that operational experience into the classroom to help contextualise learning. I also feel that sometimes student officers are surprised by some of the incidents I have attended and been exposed to. I think this highlights the important role Special Constables play operationally. Gone are the days of the stereotypical image of a Special Constable policing the village fete; we now carry most of the same kit (I am a Taser officer, for example), receive a lot of the same operational training, can specialise, and attend pretty much everything a regular officer would. There are some fundamental differences between the roles, however anecdotally, I feel that gap has narrowed.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Special Constabulary — especially professionals with other commitments?

I cannot recommend the role enough. I have loved the last 9+ years of volunteering as a Special Constable. There absolutely is a balance to strike, and vital to remember that family, friends, and your career come first. However, like any other officer, we carry that warrant card with us on and off duty. It truly is a volunteering role like no other, with a tremendous amount of responsibility, and of course an element of risk, however the reward of helping people and keeping communities safe is just fantastic. 

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of volunteering in policing?

My hope is that with action at local and national level within policing, as well as close collaboration between policing and academia to better understand Special Constabulary retention and the sustained decline in strength since 2012, that we will see numbers stabilise and maintained within England and Wales. The Special Constabulary has a rich and unique history and makes a significant contribution to policing, and it deserves to thrive.

Our thanks to Jack for contributing to the UWE Policing blog and to all the volunteers out there. If this has inspired you to look at volunteering as a Special Constable you can find out more information about the role and how to apply through this College of Policing link

References

Britton, I. (2018) Analysis of Special Constabulary Statistics. Institute for Public Safety Crime and Justice (online). Available from: https://pure.northampton.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/8419410/Britton_Iain_2018_Analysis_of_Special_Constabulary_National_Statistics_Briefing_Paper_3.pdf

Britton, I. (2024) Where have all the Special Constables gone, and what can we do about it? The Police Foundation (online). Available from: https://www.police-foundation.org.uk/2024/01/where-have-all-the-special-constables-gone-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-long-read/

Home Office (2025) Police workforce, England and Wales (online). Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2024/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2024

Mirrlees-Black, C. and Byron, C. (1994) Special Considerations: Issues for the Management and Organisation of the Volunteer Police (online). London: Home Office. 

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

Staff in the Spotlight – A conversation with Sean Paley.

Author claudiamccready | Posted on

Sir Robert Peel famously said, “the police are the public and the public are the police.” Much to that sentiment, we recognise the key roles that our staff and students undertake in making our programmes successful.

This week’s UWE Bristol Policing blog focuses on a key member of our teaching staff, Sean Paley. Sean kindly shares his vast background in operational policing, his transition into academia and how he uses such knowledge to help develop the next generation of officers on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship. He may even share a funny story, recipe or recommendation too…

Who are you and what is your role at UWE?

I am Sean Paley, currently a lecturer on the PCDA programme teaching across a range of policing powers and subjects. I have 5 years’ experience teaching on the PCDA programmes, joining UWE in November 2024.

Can you tell us a bit about the experience you bring to your role?

In addition to teaching on the PCDA programme, I have been supervising students in year 3 projects, which I enjoy very much. I have one publication which is related to policing in the 21st century and is aimed at the PCDA student audience. I have 32 years’ experience in Policing, mainly in CID across a range of areas, and in addition undertaking SIO duties for 22 of those years as the on-call SIO to serious and major crime.

What do you enjoy most about working on the policing programmes?

The best thing about working in this role is giving police officers the opportunity to enjoy and achieve great things, and to see them arrive fresh and ready to learn and see them at the end of the study when they have grown and developed enormously. I get a sense of achievement knowing I have added some contribution to this and their journey ahead.

What do you consider to be your areas of specialism and research interests?

I am interested in Police Powers, The Police and Criminal Evidence Act and covert methods of Policing, including Covert Human Intelligence Sources, or informant management as it’s known. I accepted an invite to write a chapter on Crime in the 21st Century, this looks at the emergence of digital advances, computer crime, cyber crime and the threat from county lines and the challenges of the current working environment, including terrorism.

Do you have a funny or favourite ‘on the job’ experience?

Seeing a Police officer dressed as Father Christmas plunging through a front window of a house using subterfuge on a drugs warrant!

What is one book or film which profoundly changed your perspective on policing and related issues?

I would recommend Roger Graef’s ‘Talking Blues: Police in Their Own Words’, which is a hard hitting but accurate collection of interviews detailing the Police culture in the 1980’s and is useful to juxtapose with the current era to assess ‘progress’ in the obvious topics affecting policing and legitimacy.

An image of the front cover of 'Talking Blues' hardback.

“A collection of interviews with over 500 police officers of every rank from all over Britain and Northern Ireland. The 1980s have changed policing, often out of recognition, and “Talking Blues” records these changes as they are perceived by the police (Graef, 1989).”

Finally, if you had to eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

Beef Stroganoff, I must admit I do not cook this, it is something I would choose if on a menu. If I do cook, it is a curry, usually using a Patak’s paste! Menu on the jar.

Additional resources

Graef, R. (1989) Talking Blues: Police in Their Own Words. London: Collins Harvill.

Paley, S. (2022) Crime in the Twenty-First Century. In: Blockley, T., Sheldon, B. and Williams, P., ed. (2022) Understanding Policing and Professional Practice. St Albans: Critical Publishing, pp. 163 – 178.

Editorial Team

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Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

A Day in the life of an Apprenticeship Coordinator

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to ensure the seamless training and development of future policing professionals? In this week’s blog, we will hear about a day in the life of Steve Concannon, a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. Steve’s role is pivotal in bridging the gap between academic learning and practical experience, ensuring that our apprentices are not only well-educated but also well-prepared for the realities of modern policing.

Whether you are a current policing apprentice, prospective applicant, or simply curious about the inner workings of our policing programme, this behind-the-scenes look will give you a newfound appreciation for the tireless efforts of those who support our Police Constable Degree apprentices every step of the way.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to become an Apprenticeship Coordinator?

Prior to finding a bit of direction in life, I spent around 9 years working for a well-known global financial organisation. Departing in 2007, the financial crash occurred in 2008. Coincidence? Yes, absolutely.

Following that, I coached football in the USA for a couple of years. Living in New Jersey, I also got to work in fantastic places such as New York and Memphis. It was such a positive, life-changing experience that it gave me the confidence and aspiration to develop myself (about time). I came back to study a BSc Sports Coaching Degree in Wales. New Jersey to Newport! ‘What’s up?’ to ‘What’s occurring?’ 

It was as a student that I realised Higher Education (HE) was where I wanted to work. I found it to be a supportive environment and became very aware of how a diverse range of services, departments and most importantly people, worked to forge a student-centred approach. My aim came to fruition by working in ‘Widening Participation’ speaking to under-represented groups about the different HE routes available. It was great to open students’ eyes to ‘less traditional’ routes in addition to well-known pathways.

UWE feels like a natural fit for me, and as an Apprenticeship Coordinator at UWE, I’ve been able to apply methods utilised in coaching and widening participation with the apprentices themselves.

How does your day start? (do you have a favourite breakfast?)

My day starts with a covert operation of creeping downstairs without waking the kids to have at least one coffee in peace! I have porridge for breakfast but mix in banana and honey to avoid the taste and consistency of wallpaper paste.

What does a typical day involve?

After a coffee or two, the morning consists of getting our two boys ready for school and out of the door on time. Close in age but with differing personalities, a little management is required, and that is putting it diplomatically!

I get out on a run a few times a week. Obviously, it’s good for physical health and fitness but it’s a nice bit of headspace too. I don’t put any pressure on myself though. I enjoy running rather than being obsessed by it. Life is a balance! And then it’s onto work.

A significant part of my job is conducting tripartite reviews with the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) officers and their Professional Development Unit (PDU) assessors from Avon and Somerset Constabulary (ASC). Whilst some students will navigate the PCDA in a smooth fashion, others may experience difficulties in the form of academic struggles, operational challenges, engagement issues or wellbeing problems.

Within a day of tripartite reviews, we’ll demonstrate a spectrum of behaviours. Empathetic, encouraging, understanding, motivating, persistent, diplomatic. And let’s not forget a little humour to break down barriers. Adaptable would be one word for us, but let’s call it supportive shape shifting! I mean, it sounds cool.

It’s important to state however that we are one part of a brilliant team, supported by a productive relationship with the UWE Policing academic staff. Being programme linked, we have a thorough understanding of the academic content, deep insight into apprentices’ development and an acute awareness of individual student needs. Also, by collaborating closely with ASC PDU Assessors, we ensure that each student has the best wraparound support. It is the very essence of a ‘joined up’ approach and I feel that the Tripartite team are the glue that helps keep it all together.

What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding?

Undoubtedly, the people. My Tripartite and wider UWE colleagues are supportive, creative, dedicated, diversely talented and never out of reach. Needless to say, all round good eggs.

Likewise, our Avon and Somerset colleagues and apprentices are an absolute pleasure to talk to. Whilst we’re sharing the love, let’s not forget the people that can make all the difference to the working day, but we might only see for 30 seconds on campus as we grab a coffee or ask directions (I still do). Smiling is infectious. Spike Milligan’s words, not mine.

What would success in your role look like for you?

As a student-centred role, we strive to provide everyone with the support required. It’s equally important however that apprentices are also equipped to deal with the demands of the role. Therefore, success is working productively with Avon & Somerset Constabulary to ensure individuals are supported according to their needs, yet autonomous in their learning.

What do you see as the main benefits of a university education for police officers and what do you think the educational priorities are?

It’s clear that the role of a modern-day Police Constable is multi-faceted and this is reflected in the breadth of academic learning gained by PCDA students. Combined with wide ranging competencies, knowledge, skills and behaviours, an apprentice can apply their understanding and become a critical thinking, well-rounded police officer.

We ask students to think critically, and I believe that the same priority applies to higher education institutions. We see policing programmes reflected on and evolve accordingly. It is so important that universities adapt to a fast-changing digital world, and that the courses remain relevant and useful. A further priority is embedding Professional Standards throughout an apprentices’ learning, particularly with the level of scrutiny being faced by police forces. This applies not only in the form of academic content but from the expectations of all on the PCDA programme, including us on the Tripartite team.

And lastly, what do you do for fun?

The simple pleasure of being around friends is a happy place. No stress, and a licence for us all to talk complete and utter nonsense while together!

I love my music and if I can find the time to squeeze in a little piano or guitar then I’m a happy lad! Thankfully for the neighbours, the drums are gathering dust in the garage.

I enjoy cooking and could happily live on a Mediterranean diet. Throw in some music whilst the hobs are on and suddenly a 90s Brit pop swagger is present in the kitchen too! But only when no-one is looking…

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe

UWE Bristol PCDA Alumni Spotlight

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

In this blog, we shine the spotlight on UWE Bristol Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) graduate Duncan Gordon. We have a growing number of PCDA Alumni and it was nice to catch up over a coffee and find out how Duncan is getting on with his career in Avon & Somerset Police. Having successfully completed the PCDA, we also discover some top tips from Duncan for apprentices progressing through our programme.

What inspired you to pursue a policing degree apprenticeship at UWE?

My journey is different to most, arriving in policing as a mature student after a 20-year career as a schoolteacher. I had always wanted to join the police, so the PCDA programme gave me the chance to fulfil that aspiration. I joined the PCDA programme in 2020 right at the start of the COVID pandemic, graduating just over a year ago in June 2023.

What have you been working on since leaving UWE and what is your current role?

Since UWE, I have become a nationally accredited PACE Advisor supporting Senior Investigating Officers’ (SIOs) on a murder investigation, passed both my National Investigators’ Exam (NIE) and Sergeant’s Exam and most recently became an accredited PiP2 Detective. I have worked as an Assistant Detective Sergeant in a CID Core Team and in the last month have gained temporary promotion as one of only 16 Detective Sergeants across the constabulary working in the specialist Bluestone Department, overseeing investigations into rape and serious sexual offences. I am currently studying to take my Sergeants’ Board at the end of this year with the aim of becoming a substantive Detective Sergeant.

What skills did you acquire during your apprenticeship that you find most valuable in your current role?

I would say skills and mindset. Applying skills and knowledge learnt at UWE back on district is easy to demonstrate. I remember leading a briefing for a drugs warrant, with a room full of hugely experienced firearms officers, dog handlers, drone operators, search teams and response cops. I used the IIMARCH template from my Craft Skills module which gave me the structure and confidence to deliver a successful briefing. Working in CID, I was the Officer in the Case (OIC) for an investigation into a critical incident that received national media attention. I was able to use the knowledge of applying the National Decision Model (NDM) and Investigative Building Blocks to devise a successful investigation strategy that resulted in a criminal conviction and recognition for effective joint working across departments.

Mindset is less easy to demonstrate. However, as part of the promotion application officers must answer the questions ‘Why me? Why now?’ In preparation for this, I have been keeping a journal at the end of each month to record what I have done well and where I have developed from any mistakes made. The regular reflections written during the PCDA programme gave me a good foundation for reflective practice, allowing me to focus on my learning. Working in the Bluestone Department we must look at the whole story of offending, finding ways to disrupt offenders and protect victims. This is problem solving policing. Stepping back from the detail of an investigation to understand why it is occurring and how it can be prevented.

Studying for my NIE and Sergeants’ exams required commitment and dedication as these had to be done at the same time as carrying out my daily duties in CID. I was able to draw on the strategies that I used to complete my PCDA Year 3 dissertation where I was also studying at the same time as working. It certainly was not easy but knowing that I had done it before gave me the confidence to know that I could do it again.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your apprenticeship, and how did you overcome them?

Spending the first year of my apprenticeship in lockdown, one of the biggest challenges was the sense of isolation. All of our teaching was remote learning so it was not as easy to talk through any issues or questions. I was fortunate that there were other people on my response team who were on different years of the PCDA programme, so I made a conscious effort to ask them questions. When I was finally able to attend UWE in person, I made a small study group of colleagues from my response station who I could talk to, share ideas, ask questions, and realise that we were all facing similar concerns. Over years 2 and 3 we would regularly meet, share news, help answer questions, laugh and develop a sense of camaraderie that I had never experienced in my previous career. I now consider those people some of my closest friends.

Can you share a success story or a proud moment from your time on the PCDA?

I had personal successes on the PCDA programme, obtaining high marks in individual modules and my overall degree classification. However, without doubt the proudest moment was sharing the success of my colleagues with whom I had developed a strong friendship over the PCDA programme. We all faced different challenges over the three years but knowing that we had been there for each without question or judgement gave me an immense sense of collective pride. Four years ago, I didn’t know their names, now I would do anything for them and know that they would do the same for me.

What advice would you give to someone on the PCDA at UWE?

My advice for colleagues currently on the PCDA programme is to show the Force value of ‘Courage’ in your studies. That may be showing the courage to overcome embarrassment in standing in front of the group to give a presentation or participate in a role-play exercise. It may be the courage to have the humility to ask for help when you are struggling with understanding a learning point or if an external factor is affecting your wellbeing. It is also the courage to be completely honest with yourself, reflecting and identifying how your mindset is affecting outcomes and not deflecting them on others. It is a cliche, but what you get from the course really will reflect what you put into it. Finally, be courageous to offer others help. You may feel that you don’t know the answers, but demonstrating compassion and active listening is extremely powerful.

I would also suggest volunteering for everything when back on district. Go to all types of jobs, work with all types of teams, demonstrate a ‘How can I help?’ attitude. Be professionally curious. It will put you in the position of gaining a range of experiences, helping you work out what you want to do and just as importantly, what parts of policing are not for you. A positive mindset also gets you noticed. Respect people’s rank, but do not be intimidated by it. Make the first move to initiate conversations, you will find that people are more than happy to share their advice and knowledge with you. Do not be surprised if the people who get selected for courses, operations and promotion are the ones who demonstrate positivity.

A final thought?

In policing we invariably meet people having the worst day of their lives. Be the person that you would want to turn up if you or your loved one were having the worst day of your life.

Duncan has certainly made an outstanding start to his policing career and we all wish him the very best for his Sergeants’ Promotion Board. We also hope to share more Alumni success stories over the coming months.

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

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If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk





















UWE Policing Apprentice Spotlight

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

Authors: Eve Smietanko and PC Jodie Norris

This week’s UWE Policing blog turns the spotlight on Police Constable Jodie Norris. Jodie is a police officer with Avon and Somerset and is a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) student here at the University of the West of England (UWE). In the short time since he joined, he has made a big impression. Jodie has taken an active role within the PCDA as a student representative, acting as the voice of the PCDA student body.  He is also a valued member of his response team. Back in March Jodie was nominated for the ‘Officer of the Year’ award. Eve caught up with him to find out how that went, why he loves the job he does and whether he has any tips for new students…

Please tell me a little bit about your career so far.

I originally joined Avon and Somerset Police as a PCSO in 2019, working initially in Somerset West before transferring to Taunton. It was never my intention to become a Police Officer as I really enjoyed the community level work which comes as being a part of the neighbourhood team. However, as my career progressed, I found I wanted to do more. Whilst in Taunton I was very lucky to work with a great team, particularly a PCSO Supervisor named Sharon Baker who was so supportive of my progression. I was a Hate Crime Tactical Advisor and a tutor. A position came up as an acting PCSO supervisor which I applied for and was successful. I enjoyed the training and the role, however felt that it was not the right time for me to be more office based. I started working a lot of overtime, working side by side with response officers and got to see more about the PC role. Initially I was put off by the PCDA programme and having to go back into education, however the more I learned about the programme, the more it started to interest me. Eventually, I applied for the role of a PC and was successful and was lucky to be posted to Taunton working with response Team 3.

As a PC I have undergone a lot of additional training already, I have tried to upskill as much as possible and I have found a bit of an affinity for traffic related incidents. After my time on response, I hope to return to Neighbourhood policing, however the ultimate goal would be to join the Roads Policing Unit before looking at studying to become a Sergeant. I enjoyed my role as a Tutor when I was a PCSO and later in my career hope there is scope to return to training, either within the PDU or something with UWE.

Congratulations on being nominated for ‘Officer of the Year’, the ceremony was held on 12th March, how did you get on?

Unfortunately, I did not win, however I was not disappointed, sitting and listening to all the amazing stories of so many brilliant officers and staff, just to be in the room was a reward it in self. We do not do this role for the thanks; however it is always nice to be recognised.

Could you explain what the award is and what the ceremony was like?

I was nominated for ‘Police Officer of the Year’. The ceremony was glamourous and fun, officers and police staff of all ranks and roles coming together, enjoying an evening of each other’s company, talking about their experiences, having a lovely meal and a drink or two. Everyone was dressed formally and I got to wear the Police No1 uniform, being a tunic. I was allowed to bring along a guest, which was my wife Victoria, who has been so supportive of my journey into policing and I couldn’t have done this without her.

How did it feel to be nominated?

I was shocked to find out I had been nominated but even more to be shortlisted. The final came down to 3 officers. I am honoured to be considered along with the other amazing people; I feel very humbled by the whole experience, especially with so many of my peers approaching me to say congratulations and to wish me good luck.

You have clearly been recognised for your achievements as an officer but what is it that encourages you to keep up the good work?

The main reason I keep doing the work I do, is for my family. I have 4 children and an amazing wife. I want my children to see the work I do and understand that they can make a difference. I want them to be as proud of me as I am of all of them and I’m sure they will go on to do amazing things. I want to help keep the world they live in a little safer.

I also see so many people and families who are not as fortunate to have what I have and if I can help change things, whether that be through removing someone from their lives that harms them, putting in a social care referral or even just being there to hold their hand and say everything is going to be ok, that gives me the motivation to keep going.

Finally, I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by some of the most inspiring people I have ever worked with. I might be biased, but Team 3 Base 5, from front line officers to the custody team are the best. All are extremely hard working and supportive, I don’t think I would have been able to push myself as hard as I have without them.

There is a lot of talk at the moment of morale within policing being low, how do you stay positive and what is your advice to other officers?

Being on response is one of the most stressful jobs I have ever had. policing is certainly not what you see on the TV, with a lot of incidents we attend being more social related than policing. Sometimes you do wonder why we are going to things. We are under constant scrutiny and sometimes it feels like everyone has it in for the police. However, I have often felt it’s the smallest percentage who have the loudest voice. Good news doesn’t sell newspapers, so of course a good news story very rarely gets shared, but so often over my career I have had members of the public walk up to me and thank me for my service and this just reminds me that we do still have the support of the public. One of my favourite parts of this job is when you see a child smile and wave and they seem to be excited to see a police officer.

If I had any advice for other officers, it would be to just remember, we only really deal with people at their absolute lowest point and most of them are not happy to see us. We are either arresting them, detaining them under 136, stop searching etc or ruining their evening by telling them to go home after having a few too many drinks. In very few other jobs, do the people you deal with have an instant distain for you. However, this is only the smallest percentage of the population. If you think about all those victims we’ve helped, those people we’ve pulled off bridges, that social care referral that gives a child that better life etc, it really makes it all worth it.

You joined the police through the PCDA programme at UWE. How do you think this experience helped you become a good police officer?

Before my first day at UWE, it had been 23 years since I was last time I was in education and I was very nervous, however I have found the UWE side of role surprisingly enjoyable, not just learning about the laws and legislation, but about why these things exist.  The history of policing and how / why things progress as society changes. I often feel a lot better equipped to deal with my role thanks to this background knowledge I have gained from my studies. I have particularly enjoyed learning about the reasons why individuals commit offences and early intervention / preventative measure we can do.  I am now 18 months into my role as a student officer. I am both a cohort rep and the whole PCDA / DHEP programme rep. I am looking forward to completing my degree over the next 18 months.

We would like to thank Jodie for sharing his journey on the PCDA at UWE Bristol. His dedication and commitment to both studies and operational delivery are truly inspiring and his story not only highlights the challenges and rewards of this path but also serves as a motivating example for future apprentices. We greatly appreciate Jodie’s openness and the insights provided and wish him and all UWE PCDA apprentices the best of luck as they continue to grow and make a positive impact in their policing careers.

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

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If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024

Author Paul Williamson | Posted on

The NAW2024 highlights the positive impact that our Police Apprentices have working within Avon & Somerset Police, the communities within the force area and individual victims and suspects. Today is ‘Celebration’ Day of the NAW2024 and this provides a great platform to showcase the impact of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) jointly delivered by UWE Bristol and our local Avon & Somerset Police Force.

Stay tuned as we will hear directly from an apprentice sharing their story. This story is not only a celebration of individual achievement, but also a tribute to the countless apprentices who are shaping their futures through dedication, hard work, and unwavering determination.

UWE Bristol Apprenticeships and the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

The College of Policing introduced the PCDA as one of the routes to join the service which was adopted by Avon & Somerset Police and UWE Bristol in 2019. The PCDA seeks to standardise training on how to ‘Police’ in the modern world where an officer needs to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to fulfil such a demanding and professionally rewarding career.

Jo Parsons is UWE Bristol’s Apprenticeship Coordinator (Policing) and comments that ‘Uwe Bristol’s Apprenticeships are a great way for public and private sectors to collaborate on the design of courses. This provides students with an alternative pathway to more traditional routes of learning which can increase accessibility to more applicants.

Jo goes on to outline the benefits of the PCDA, including:

  • Earn and Learn at the same time!
  • Gain a Level 6 Degree Qualification in Professional Policing Practice.
  • Fully funded course.
  • From the start you will be part of frontline Policing.
  • You will be supported throughout the 3-year programme by the Teaching Team, Avon & Somerset Police Tutors, Assessors and the Tri-Partite Policing Team who are all there to assist you along the journey to becoming a qualified Police Constable.  
  • Blended Learning between the classroom and the workplace equips apprentices to be the best Police Officer you can be.

Over the last year, UWE Bristol has received fantastic external validation regarding the quality of delivery and performance of apprentices. In 2023 the PCDA was subject of an Ofsted Inspection and an End Point Assessment Quality Inspection, both achieving ‘Good’ status. Our key partner Avon and Somerset Police (ASP) was ranked 75th in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Providers and UWE Bristol was listed in the Top 20 ‘Rate my Apprenticeship’ providers. With the PCDA representing over 25% of all UWE apprentices, these accolades reflect our growing reputation.

UWE Bristol Apprenticeships Community of Practice

In the lead up to NAW2024, UWE hosted an ‘Apprenticeships Community of Practice’ event. UWE Bristol Vice Chancellor (VC) Steve West provided an inspiring speech about how UWE’s apprenticeship provision should seek to be brave in facing the challenges of the future and why apprenticeships are forecast to grow. This is in response to being highly sought by industry and apprentices alike. Let us now turn to explore the apprentice experience.

🌟 Spotlight on Apprenticeships: Meet Gary Berry! 🌟

In celebration of National Apprenticeships Week, we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding apprentices. Over to Gary…

‘Hi, I’m Gary and I graduated from the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) in March 2023. I can’t believe how quickly the past 3 years have gone!

I joined Avon and Somerset Constabulary (ASC) in March 2020 without any prior policing experience. I was the first in my family to become a police officer and like many of you, I joined as I had a desire to help people and make a real difference. Opting for the PCDA was an obvious choice for me because it provided an opportunity to learn whilst still receiving a salary and offered a stable career. Through this pathway, I obtained a valuable degree at no cost to me, which was particularly important as I already had a degree and was therefore still paying towards that one.

The PCDA course started with a series of lectures on topics such as law and human vulnerabilities, and this marked a steep learning curve for myself and my colleagues. To compound matters, within a week of starting the course, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that we had to leave the classroom and start remote learning. However, after some trial and error, a collaborative effort between ASC and UWE produced a stable learning environment. This learning enabled me to take my initial steps into the real world of policing with some confidence.

The PCDA has given me the opportunity to study a range of interesting topics related to policing, such as stop and search, terrorism, and criminological theories. These subjects have been grounded in evidence-based practices, an approach which I believe is the future of policing as it will help officers and staff to formulate, use and review the best available evidence to inform and challenge current policies, practices, and procedures. 

There are opportunities to tailor your learning to your interests as part of the PCDA; for example, a topic that truly caught my professional curiosity is stop and search. This is because I possessed limited knowledge of this policing power, although I was aware of its contentious nature. To develop my own understanding in this area, I joined the internal stop and search scrutiny panel. This involves individuals from within the policing community coming together to scrutinise searches that have been conducted by police officers in ASC. Feedback can then be provided. 

A requirement of the PCDA involves writing a dissertation centred around a self-selected policing topic and I chose to focus my research on stop and search. My title was ‘An Investigation into the Barriers Involved in Preventing Police Officers from Utilising Stop and Search Powers’. Navigating the process of writing a dissertation proved to be stressful, however unwavering support from my UWE supervisor helped me to identify a substantial gap in the existing literature. 

This research has given me the opportunity to collaborate with the force lead in ASC for stop and search and propose several recommendations. For example, my findings identified that scrutiny impacted officers’ willingness to engage in stop searches. Therefore, I am in the process of introducing internal resources explaining what scrutiny is, how it is applied in ASC and its importance in enhancing our accountability, transparency, and fairness when using this power.

I also had the opportunity to attend and present my research at the annual UWE Social Science Conference in May 2023. The event involved over 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students from other degrees such as Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Criminology and Philosophy, each sharing their own research. To my utmost surprise, my research was awarded first prize. This experience is something that I would not have considered three years ago, and it has allowed me to develop skills in public speaking and presenting. 

Since graduating, I have been able to apply the skills I acquired throughout the PCDA course. I contribute to the stop and search and violence against women and girls’ portfolios under the guidance of the leads, specifically in relation to body-worn video (BWV). For example, I have revised the guidance on BWV for both portfolios explaining its importance and benefits, back by evidence-based research. In addition, I analyse the BWV data uploaded by officers to ASC systems to ensure they comply with force policy. Failure to adhere can significantly affect public confidence if complaints arise’.

In January 2024, Gary transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service to take up a response officer role in Wimbledon. He goes on to explain that:

‘The diversity of work in the capital is something I am eager to embrace, along with the plethora of opportunities available. In addition, I would like to pursue a postgraduate degree to further enhance my knowledge and academic skills, providing a solid foundation for my continued career development.

Overall, I believe the various experiences I have gained from the PCDA have equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to confidently tackle any future challenges, both in my professional and personal life. I strongly believe that the effort you invest directly correlates with the rewards you reap, especially in this rewarding career’.

Looking forward

Thank you for joining us in celebrating National Apprenticeships Week and the remarkable stories of apprentices like Gary, whom we wish every continued success. The PCDA continues to build on UWE Bristol’s long history of working with regional employers and our bespoke policing facilities at UWE Bristol are the envy of other providers.

As we look ahead, the UWE Bristol Policing programme remains steadfast in our support for apprentices and apprenticeship programs, ensuring that every individual can thrive and succeed. Here’s to the continued success of apprenticeships and the countless PCDA officers whose career journeys in Policing inspire us all.

Useful links

https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/degree-apprenticeships

https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/ST0304/police-constable

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

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