Students 'join' PSNI for a week

Ten University of Ulster students have 'joined' the PSNI this week in a unique experiment to give them an insight into policing Northern Ireland.

The pilot programme was devised by the Police College and focused on the Police Service's High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) which aims to develop people of significant ability for roles in senior command.

Superintendent Will Kerr, head of programmes at the Police College, who linked with the University to set up the initiative, said more and more people were choosing policing as a career.

"This pilot programme gave us an opportunity to show some very able young people what policing has to offer especially through the High Potential Development Scheme," he said.

Ruth Fee, Faculty Head of Collaborative Courses at the University's Faculty of Social Sciences added: "There was a keen interest in taking part in the programme. The level of interest in the placement far outweighed the ten places on offer. The group of students is drawn from both sides of the community.

"This initiative will give the students and graduates an opportunity to see what career opportunities are available within the Police Service, particularly for those who have been identified as having high potential."

During the week the students, from the University's BSc Hons Criminology and Criminal Justice degree, were also given an oversight of career opportunities available in policing.

(MB/SP)