Perceptions of student officers of the police constable degree apprenticeship

Abstract

In 2016, policing in England and Wales became a degree-entry profession. The pathway for those entering the service without a pre-existing degree is the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA). Due its novelty, there is little extant research surrounding its efficacy. This study gathered perceptions of PCDA officers through a mix of quantitative and qualitative data and thematic analysis, finding that the programme is viewed quite negatively, but this is improving over time. The negativity is largely influenced by a police culture and hierarchy both reluctant to change and facing significant operational pressures hindering students’experience.