HOPEFUL police officers will be able to train at one of the region's campuses as a new policing degree is launched.

Coventry University, which has a campus in Scarborough, will launch its Bachelor of Arts in Professional Policing in time for the new academic year.

The university said the course will offer teaching that meets the new standards of the College of Policing, and will eventually offer a fast track for students to enter forces across the UK.

Kay Fraser, associate pro-vice chancellor at the Scarborough Campus, said: "We are delighted to be launching this new pre-join degree which has been written in such a way to ensure that students are immersed in modern policing issues and procedures.

"It will focus on the main challenges a police officer faces in the modern era, such as protecting the vulnerable, digital policing, and counter-terrorism measures – the course will equip students with the skills they need to become an effective police officer, and as it’s licensed by the College of Policing.

"In future, police forces across England and Wales will be able to recruit our students soon after they graduate."

The university said the course came in good timing as prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans to recruit a further 20,000 police officers. Ms Fraser added: “The demand for new police officers is very high, so we would encourage anyone thinking of joining the police to get in touch as soon as possible.”