Report

Impact and Insights Report 2020/21

DIVERSITY AND TALENT

RECRUITING TALENTED AND MISSION-ALIGNED OFFICERS

When surveyed at the beginning of the 2020 Police Now Academy, National Graduate Leadership Programme participants cited belief in Police Now’s mission and professional development opportunities as their primary motivators for joining policing, followed by the opportunity to use their degree or other relevant work experience1.

Ranking of participant motivations for joining the Police Now National Graduate Leadership Programme,
rather than applying direct to force:

Professional development opportunities
Belief in Police Now’s mission
The opportunity to use my degree or other relevant work experience
The flexibility to leave/remain in policing after two years
Nationwide reach of the programme.

Police Now’s programmes also continue to successfully attract those who may not have otherwise considered a career in policing.

Of those joining the
National Graduate Leadership Programme in 2020,

0 %

of participants stated they were not planning to join the police before hearing about Police Now, up from 40% in 20192.

Of those joining the
National Detective Programme in 2021,

0 %

of participants stated they were not planning to join the police before hearing about Police Now, up from 49% in 20193.

“I didn’t want a desk job, a 9-5, Monday to Friday. I wanted a very proactive job where you’re out there in front of the public and able to make a real impact in communities. Whilst my parents and friends have been very supportive, I think you’ll always have a small number of individuals who don’t necessarily agree with the path you are taking. However, if I’m able to prove to them that by becoming a neighbourhood police officer and having a real impact in a small community, I can have a wider impact as a whole, then maybe I can change their perspective and perceptions of the police.”

Police Constable James Pullen,

National Graduate Leadership Programme Participant, Metropolitan Police Service.

“It’s really important that the police work hard to become a representative workforce for the communities and society which they serve. This is important to grow understanding and strengthen relationships and engagement with victims, suspects, and the community as a whole. Police Now’s mission really drives that forward.”

Trainee Detective Constable Larry Brown,

National Detective Programme Participant, Avon & Somerset Police.

“What attracted me to Police Now was the clear line of progression for my career, the structure to the programme, the attachments you get put on, and the huge amount of responsibility you have as a neighbourhood police officer.”

Police Constable Emma Adams,

National Graduate Leadership Programme Participant, Hertfordshire Constabulary.

“In my previous role as a social worker, I was able to make a direct impact with the clients I worked with. The Police Now National Detective Programme gave me an opportunity to make a career change but continue to make a direct impact in the communities that I serve.”

Trainee Detective Constable Tary Kufa,

National Detective Programme Participant, Greater Manchester Police.

HEAR FROM OUR PARTICIPANTS

Why did you decide to join Police Now?

Sami Halepota | Neighbourhood police officer

Why Police Now's mission is so important.

Larry Brown | Trainee Detective Constable

What's special about joining with Police Now?

Emma Adams | Neighbourhood police officer

CASE STUDY

Police Constable Anokhi Chouhan,

National Graduate Leadership Programme Participant, Essex Police.

“My grandparents came to the UK as Indian immigrants before setting up home in Ilford and my family is Hindu by religion. I wanted to bring my experiences to policing and I applied to Police Now with the aim of making a difference to everyday lives.”

“Soon after joining Essex Police, I noticed that the local police had a good relationship with the Church of England community but wasn’t engaging as much with other faith communities. After pointing this out to my Chief Inspector, I was tasked by him to further strengthen the relationship between local police and multi-faith groups in the Epping Forest District. I was passionate about being involved in this project as I have always had an interest in different cultures, and I’ve enjoyed looking at ways we can help multi-faith groups in the district. Throughout 2019, I met with various faith leaders in the district and examined ways that we could all communicate about issues such as community, safety, and engagement. By doing this, I was able to understand the concerns and issues affecting those communities while providing an opportunity to inform them of the work Essex Police are doing to keep them safe.

During this multi-faith project, I have worked alongside Church of England Reverends, Catholic Priests, Jewish Rabbis and Muslim Imams in the area to help establish the best ways for faith groups, schools and voluntary groups to work and talk together.

I also facilitated the first engagement between the local police and Chigwell Mandir, a Hindu temple that had opened in the area two years prior. This led to the entire Community Policing Team attending the Diwali festivities that year to learn more about their religion, whilst also providing a reassuring presence by patrolling such a large-attended event. This formed a good relationship that was highlighted when we went into the first COVID-19 lockdown, and the Mandir kindly offered to provide food once a week for officers and other key workers throughout the lockdown.”

Commenting on Anokhi’s work in Epping Forest Guardian4, Reverend Batson said:

“I met Anokhi and it was fantastic to meet such a passionate and committed individual and I know her work will help provide reassurance and will help people feel safe. We all know our local officers and the police know that we may have information that will help them do their job even more effectively, so the work Anokhi is involved in can only be positive.”

Anokhi’s Chief Inspector, Lewis Basford, said:

“We’ve always worked closely with multi-faith groups in the district and Anokhi’s engagements will only strengthen those relationships. I’m excited about the opportunities that she can bring, and we have come together to come up with a number of ideas that I feel would make a real difference.”

FOOTNOTES

Measured via an online survey at the start of the 2020 Police Now Academy (n=339) ‘What were your primary motivations for joining the Police Now programme, rather than applying direct to force?’ ↩
Measured via an online survey at the start of the 2020 (n=340) and 2019 (n=219) Police Now Academy ‘Were you planning to join the police before you heard about Police Now?’ ↩
Measured via an online survey at the start of the 2021 (n=188) and 2019 (n=87) Police Now Academy ‘Were you planning to join the police before you heard about Police Now?’ ↩
See Epping Forest Guardian news article. ↩

National Graduate Leadership Programme

National Detective Programme