When an offer of appointment is made and you join our team, you will undergo extensive training to make sure you are suitably equipped to handle the demands and challenges you will face as a Police Officer.

The probation period lasts for two years. As a Student Officer your first two weeks will be spent at force headquarters on your induction course. From there your training will continue to be delivered in-house at one of our Professional Development Units (PDU). The three PDU’s are situated at Thorpe Wood, March and Parkside Police Stations.

All Student Officers will be assigned to a Professional Development Officer (PDO) - an experienced Police Officer who will be responsible for tutoring, coaching and mentoring students in the workplace. The PDO will remain with the Student Officer until they are assessed as being fit for Independent patrol and will act as mentors throughout the two-year probationary period.

There will be three main learning phases covering:

• Patrol
• Volume and priority crime
• Vulnerability and Roads Policing

You will remain based at the PDU until you are fit for independent Patrol status. At this point you will become a divisional resource, and as such you will come under the control of your division and not the PDU. Once on patrol your performance will continue to be assessed.

Delivery of specific core leadership development programme modules during the course will give you certification in Team Leading awarded by the Chartered Management Institute.

At the end of a successful two-year probation period, your appointment in the rank of Constable will be confirmed.