NEW police recruits can now earn a salary while gaining a degree thanks to a major new partnership aimed to enhance policing across North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Police and The Open University have announced a new collaboration delivering specialist education for police officers from July 2020.

This follows the College of Policing’s introduction of a new qualifications framework to enable the police service to become a graduate profession.

The first cohort under the new scheme will join during the next recruitment campaign which opens in October 2019 to start training in July 2020.

More than 100 students are expected to start the training programmes each year.

Chief Constable Lisa Winward of North Yorkshire Police said: “This ambitious new collaboration signifies an exciting change in the way police officers are trained and developed throughout their careers, providing them with the skillset needed to navigate the challenging and ever-evolving world of policing, while gaining a degree and learning and earning on the job at the same time.

The Northern Echo:

Chief Constable Lisa Winward of North Yorkshire Police

“We are looking forward to building a lasting partnership with the Open University that will build on our positive recruitment over the past few years and continue to provide the public of North Yorkshire with the highest calibre of police officers for years to come.

"I look forward to welcoming our first cohort in July next year as they start their journey with us.”

The Open University was awarded the contract due to their expertise in ensuring that people from diverse backgrounds are supported and able to complete degree level studies.

Dr Matthew Jones, the director of policing organisation and practice at The Open University, said: “The University’s unique method of remote and face-to-face learning will enable the next generation of police officers in North Yorkshire to study – anywhere and anytime – while continuing to meet their policing commitments.

"Student officers can immediately apply knowledge gained through their study to their day-to-day police work.

“Our mission over the last 50 years is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas, and promoting social diversity is at the very heart of what we do as a university."

There will be three routes for graduates; a three-year apprenticeship, a two-year degree-holder entry programme and a pre-join degree scheme.

For more information click here, or to register an interest in the schemes, visit northyorkshire.police.uk/JoinUs