4
Dec
2014
By Calvin at 11:40 GMT, 11 years ago
Another 14 new police officers are now ready to protect North Yorkshire's communities following a passing out ceremony held at police headquarters on Friday 28 November.
The new recruits were welcomed to the force by Chief Constable Dave Jones at the end of their intensive, 18-week, initial training course.
Chief Constable Jones said: "I am delighted and very proud to welcome another group of brand new police officers to North Yorkshire Police, bringing our total number of new officers this year to 69.
"Throughout their career, they will use many skills and develop new ones. They will be challenged and sometimes pushed to their limits when dealing with what can be some of the most distressing and toughest situations a person can face. But knowing they have saved someone's life, protected the vulnerable or brought justice for victims will outweigh all these challenges.
"We have seen them develop in confidence and knowledge over the past 18 weeks, displaying all the values that North Yorkshire Police stand for - courage, compassion and inspiration - and are now set to begin life on the beat, protecting our communities and helping to keep North Yorkshire one of the safest places in the country. I wish them every success in the future and look forward to working them."
The officers' training included law, personal safety, search techniques, public order, first aid and a local community placement, all designed to prepare them for life on the beat. They also undertook a considerable amount of home study as part the course to qualify for the Certificate of Knowledge in Policing.
The new recruits will now start work on the beat under the guidance of their tutor constables for 15 weeks. After that, they will be able to patrol alone, but will be monitored and assessed during the rest of their probationary period. After two years they will be certified as fully fledged police officers.
Source North Yorkshire Police http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/14712
TCPW Comment When I read this I couldn’t help thinking about my own time in the police. I ‘passed out’ in 1978 after 12 weeks of the most intensive instruction I had ever experienced; far harder than the ‘A’ levels I’d completed just a short time before (and I had two years to do those!). Then it was straight out on the beat with just one week’s ‘puppy walking’ and then I was on my own. That was not good for me and certainly not good for the poor unfortunate soul who called on me for help! Thank goodness this still isn’t the bad old days!
Congratulations and Good Luck to all new recruits, wherever you might be pounding the beat - You’ve just started working for the best police service in the world!
