148 police constables have completed Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme academy

Emergency Service & Military

To mark their final day, the academy delivered several sessions and activities, including hosting a ‘Policing for Change’ panel with three senior guests:

  • Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave QPM of The Metropolitan Police Service – currently seconded to the NPCC and responsible for the Criminal Justice Portfolio 
  • Garry Shewan QPM – Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and former Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police
  • Simon Rose – Cambridge Centre for Evidence Based Policing and former Detective Chief Superintendent of The Metropolitan Police Service  

The panel discussed the use of ‘stop and search’ and explored ways to increase public confidence and trust in these statutory police powers, such as ensuring proportionality and continually monitoring effectiveness.

Richard McCann, motivational speaker and founder of the iCan Academy, delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking session, sharing insights into his personal experiences with the police and commending the cohort on their chosen career path.

Deputy Chief Constable Tyron Joyce, NPCC Lead for the Police Race Action Plan, led an informative session to highlight the importance of the national plan and provide an insight into the current workstreams. He closed with: “I want to congratulate you on getting to this stage. Please make sure you look after yourselves and each other. This Police Now programme and its potential is massive – you can deliver the change.”

Addressing the participants remotely, Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine of West Midlands Police, said: “Huge congratulations on completing the Police Now academy training, it’s a magnificent achievement and I just want to welcome you all into the police service as you go out into your individual forces across the country. For those 18 officers joining West Midlands Police – we’ll see you soon.”

Jonathan Hinder, head of this year’s academy closed the day by reminding the cohort that the team are here to support them every step of the way. He said: “We know you’re brilliant police officers, now go and show everyone else.”

The officers will now have a rest week before being deployed into their respective police forces to complete the Police Now programme – tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and working to increase public confidence in policing.