The body representing Norfolk police officers has backed calls for the Home Secretary to lift the mandatory requirement for all new recruits to study for a degree-level qualification.
Home secretary Suella Braverman has confirmed that she will no longer be phasing out the non-degree entry route into the job, saying policing needed to “draw from the widest pool of talent”.
Norfolk Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers in the county, has welcomed the move arguing the three-year programme of study was putting off older recruits and former military personnel.
Chairman Andy Symonds said: “We should always remain open to all people, regardless of their academic abilities. As long as they can, with training, become an excellent officer who is able to serve their communities with distinction and can investigate and solve crimes, that is all that matters.
“Being a great cop doesn’t include being able to write a dissertation. It makes no sense to miss out on excellent people from our community who would be great police officers.”
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