THAMES Valley Police has welcomed a wave of new officers following their graduation from the Police Now academy.
After completing their National Graduate Leadership Programme, 19 new officers joined Thames Valley Police on Monday, November 7.
Police Now’s NGL programme provides prospective constables with core knowledge and skills during a seven-week residential academy.
Officers were selected from thousands of applicants and given training which develops leadership skills and problem-solving, with 148 officers undergoing the program.
They also work towards a graduate diploma in professional Policing Practice in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University.
Police Constable Caitlin Neal, one of the new recruits, said: “I’ve always been a proactive person who wanted to help people and make a change, and I feel Police Now’s mission really aligned with this.
“The academy has been a chance for me to test myself, learn so much about policing and to be a part of the next generation of police officers.
“It is amazing to work with like-minded, hard-working individuals nationally. I have made some brilliant friends and we have all helped each other on the challenging days.
She continued: “I would easily recommend Police Now to everyone; the hard work pays off. I am looking forward to working with communities in Thames Valley and truly make a difference to peoples lives, and to keep building on the skills we have already been developing at academy.”
The new officers were trained at the academy by experienced officers seconded from Police Now’s partner forces, including Police Sergeant Hughes and Acting Police Sergeant Summers from Thames Valley Police.
A/PS Samuel Summers said: “I have been genuinely impressed by the determination and grit to succeed that has been demonstrated by the participants at the National Graduate Leadership Programme academy.
“It has been an absolute privilege to watch as their confidence and abilities have grown day by day.
“I am confident that they will be a credit to Thames Valley Police as they go forward with their careers.”
Police Now an independent charitable social enterprise, founded in 2014, which seeks to transform communities by reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
It also seeks to increase the public’s confidence in the police service by recruiting, developing and inspiring outstanding and diverse individuals to be leaders in society and on the policing frontline.
