Eight new police constables land in the Hertfordshire Constabulary today (Monday 18^th September), where they will begin working to transform communities, reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, and build public confidence in the police service as neighbourhood police officers. 

The new officers have completed seven weeks of training at Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme academy, developing the essential policing knowledge and skills to serve their communities.

They now officially land in force where they will continue Police Now’s two-year programme, working to support victims and tackle crime across Hertfordshire. They will also work towards their Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice, in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. 

Addressing the officers on the final day of Police Now’s national academy, Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police said: “Policing is a fulfilling, challenging, interesting and diverse career. As a neighbourhood police officer, you will deal with a wide variety of issues at all levels of society and support vulnerable people within your communities who need you the most. You will uphold the law with honesty, integrity and compassion at all times and you will work extremely hard to support the public you serve.

“You are joining policing at a particularly challenging time, when public trust and confidence is lower than it has been for many years. Remember that every interaction you have with the public, however small, is a chance to change that. You are highly successful individuals who want to make a difference by serving others. Policing needs people just like you, who act and think differently and are prepared to challenge the status quo.

“Congratulations on everything you have achieved so far, as you come to the end of your academy training and prepare to arrive in your forces across the country. Continue to work hard and thank you in advance for everything you will do to fight crime and keep our communities safe.”

Police Constable Nick Beresford, who has just completed the academy and lands in Hertfordshire Constabulary today via the programme, said: “My journey at Police Now’s academy has been both challenging and transformative. Throughout this rigorous training we were presented with demanding lessons, yet they never failed to equip us with the essential knowledge required. Initially, I had aspirations to become a detective. However, Police Now has revealed that the police service offers far more depth than I initially understood. My passions have evolved, and my aspirations have taken a new direction. This can be attributed to the remarkable individuals I’ve encountered, the invaluable guidance I’ve received, and the wealth of knowledge we’ve absorbed. As I anticipate my assignment in Hemel Hempstead, I’m fully prepared to contribute to the betterment of my community. One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been forging friendships with colleagues from across the nation. I am confident that these connections will endure for years to come, serving as a testament to the enduring bonds forged during this pivotal chapter of my life.”

Police Now’s programme recruits, trains and develops outstanding and diverse graduates with a commitment to exceptional community policing and public service. These new officers are among 113 graduates trained at this year’s National Graduate Leadership Programme academy and among over 2,750 officers recruited nationally by Police Now across England and Wales.

Police Now is committed to building a diverse police service that is representative of the communities it serves and consistently recruits more female officers and more officers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds than the national average. Of those on this cohort of the National Graduate Leadership Programme, 51% identify as female, 24% are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background, 19% identify as LGBT+ and there are 22 languages spoken across the cohort.

Applications for the next intake on Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme are currently open.