Police Scotland’s largest ever intake of new officers has today officially joined the ranks.
213 recruits, who began training in June, took to the Parade Square at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, this morning in the presence of Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Gwynne QPM, other senior officers, invited guests as well as family and friends.
The record breaking class is also the most ethnically diverse group to pass through SPC Tulliallan in Police Scotland’s history. Included in the intake were the first group of black and minority ethnic (BME) recruits to complete the recently launched Introduction to Policing course, led by the Police Scotland Positive Action Team in January and February 2017.
The four-week programme offered potential applicants an insight into day-to-day life as a police officer and an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the application and selection process as well as provide peer support to each other during the process via a closed Facebook group.
The second course has resulted in an increased number of applications to join Police Scotland, with more BME applicants due to start their initial training at Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, later this month. A third course is currently underway in Aberdeen.
Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Gwynne QPM said: “I am extremely encouraged to see so many people willing to serve as police officers, helping to keep Scotland’s communities safe. They have all put in a great deal of personal commitment and hard work to reach this milestone in their training, which I know will continue as they embark on their public service across the country.”
He continued: “Policing in Scotland is carried out by consent, and one of the best ways to achieve this is to have a police service which reflects the communities we serve. A diverse workforce benefits the whole country and officers who have something in common with their communities can find it easier to understand cultural differences, enabling them to build trust and confidence.
“Through the Introduction to Policing project we are working hard to ensure any perceived barriers to applying to Police Scotland are dispelled or removed and by highlighting to people from all social, economic, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds that policing is an employer of choice for BME communities.”
All of the newly qualified constables will now move onto local training for a week before hitting the beat in policing divisions across the country for their two year probationary period.
Of the new officers passing out today, 37% are women. This is one of the highest ever percentages of women in a class at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan.
Police Scotland remains keen to receive applications from people interested in joining the service across Scotland, and in particular women and people from under-represented groups including the BME communities
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
