The University of Portsmouth's Police Education Team (PET) is playing a key role in the training of the next generation of Metropolitan Police officers.
As a member of the Police Education Consortium - which has just secured a new contract in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) - Portsmouth will help deliver the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and support the education and training of approximately 300 new recruits each year.
The Consortium is a partnership of the University of Portsmouth, Middlesex University, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University of Cumbria, who all have extensive experience in police education, apprenticeships and work-based learning.
Dr Nick Pamment , Director of Innovation within the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and strategic lead for the Police Education Consortium said: "Securing this partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service is an important milestone for the Police Education Consortium and for the University of Portsmouth.
"It reflects the strength of our collaborative approach to police education and our shared commitment to preparing officers for the realities of modern policing. Supporting the training of the next generation of MET officers also means contributing to safer communities across London, helping officers build the trust, professionalism and community focus that are essential for effective policing today."
Course content is based on the high-level programme learning outcomes set by the College of Policing and is delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) and in-person masterclasses.
Since 2019, the Consortium has trained over 3,300 police constables across four police forces in the Southeast of England, including Thames Valley, Surrey, Sussex Police and Hampshire Constabulary. Its Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship was recognised as the Best Apprenticeship Programme in Public Services in 2024, reflecting the quality, consistency and impact of its provision.
A new partnership meeting the needs of London communities
By delivering the PCDA in partnership with the MPS, the Consortium is now extending its expertise to London, the UK's largest policing area and supporting the development of the Metropolitan Police Service's next generation of officers.
The programme combines on the job experience with professional learning, ensuring that recruits are well equipped to meet the diverse and complex needs of London's communities while maintaining high professional standards.
Through close collaborative partnership working with the MPS, the Consortium will deliver practice-based programmes that aligns professional learning with operational priorities and workforce development needs, supporting officers from the earliest stages of their policing careers, starting with the first cohort in April 2026.
Transforming police education and building community trust
Trust in policing is essential for community safety and cohesion. The MPS's New Met for London strategy places trust at its core, committing to "More Trust, Less Crime, High Standards." By prioritising transparency, accountability and local engagement, the MPS aims to rebuild confidence and strengthen collaboration with communities.
Steve Woliter, Programme Management Board Lead for the University of Portsmouth and Senior Lecturer in Police Education, said: "As the operational lead for the University of Portsmouth's contribution to the Consortium, this partnership with the MPS represents a genuinely significant step forward. Having spent the majority of my policing career working in major crime, homicide and national investigation training, I have seen first-hand what a difference high-quality, evidence-informed education makes to officers on the front line".
Police education and training play a critical role in this mission. The PCDA will provide high-quality, practice-based education and training, equipping recruits with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to deliver fair, ethical and community focused policing. Through developing reflective, evidence informed practice, the programme supports officers to apply professional learning directly to real world policing challenges, strengthening professionalism and public trust.
The University of Portsmouth's role
Portsmouth's Police Education Team (PET) is part of the University's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice .
Founded in 1992, the school is internationally recognised for its study of crime, its causes, and its societal and personal impacts. It is the largest criminology department in the UK, with interdisciplinary expertise in criminological analysis, applied psychology, policing, community justice, penology, risk, security, and international and comparative criminal justice.
With cutting-edge facilities like the crime scene simulation spaces and replica courtroom , the University offers a blend of academic rigour and practical training.
Professor Paul Smith , Head of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice said: "This latest announcement follows the University of Portsmouth being awarded Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (P-ACE) status last year, as part of a £4.5 million national programme funded by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)" .
