Students on the Professional Policing degree at the University of Winchester found out about life on the force first hand when four recent graduates were brought in for questioning.
Now members of the Thames Valley Police, the largest non-metropolitan force in England, the quartet graduated in 2023 and were among the first cohort to complete the BSc in Professional Policing.
Students had a chance to talk to the new officers, one of whom is on the detective entry programme, face-to-face about their experiences.
They were accompanied by Inspector Andy Fiddler, Retention, Positive Action Team and TVP Military Lead for Thames Valley.
Inspector Fiddler outlined the routes from university into Thames Valley Police, which covers Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire and recruits more than 400 officers a year.
Owing to its size, said the Inspector, Thames Valley offers a wide range of different policing roles for anyone who wanted to specialise later in their career.
“You can achieve whatever you want in policing,” he told his audience.
Inspector Fiddler was a case in point. Among his achievements in uniform was to help draft ‘Harper’s Law’ which ensures harsher punishments for those who kill an emergency service worker whilst they are on duty.
He was one of the Thames Valley officers who launched a campaign for the law following the death of PC Andrew Harper during his response to a burglary in 2019.
The visitors in blue were welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Sarah Greer, who said: “We are always pleased when our students come back to visit.”
Addressing the four alumni, Professor Greer said: “We are incredibly proud of what you have achieved. You are role models for the students here.”
Dr Daryl Kenny, Programme Leader for the Professional Policing Degree, notes that many graduates are now working in police organisations such as Thames Valley Police.
“It was great seeing former students passing on such useful insight to current students and for Inspector Fiddler to highlight the many opportunities within Thames Valley Police for graduates of our BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Degree,” he said.
Visit BSc (Hons) Professional Policing 2025 - University of Winchester to find out more about the course.