WEST Yorkshire Police is launching a new recruitment programme in Bradford to attract new officers to the force.
The three-week training courses are designed to prepare people to become Police Community Support Officers or Contact Officers.
An information and enrolment event will be held at a Bradford job centre on Friday, November 18, for interested people to find out more.
Then the first course will take place in the city before the end of the year.
The training courses, known as Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) will be delivered by Realise, one of the UK’s leading training providers which also has adult education contracts in West Yorkshire.
The courses will be held at the Holme United Reformed Church Community Centre in Holme Wood, Bradford, just a mile away from Dudley Hill Police Station.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Kate Riley, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “This training course is another away for people to gain the right skills and experience to prepare them for a job in the police.
“Contact Officers are the first port of call when dealing with the police as they take all the 999 and 101 calls and our Police Community Support Officers are the face of policing in our local neighbourhoods.
“West Yorkshire Police is keen to attract people from the local area who understand the communities they will serve.
“We are determined to improve diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace and in all that we do. A diverse workforce which brings different thinking, backgrounds, experiences, and upbringings will help us become more effective in preventing and reducing crime, keeping people safe and caring for victims.”
Gregg Scott, managing director of Realise, said they would use their strong connections in the region with other stakeholders including the Department for Work and Pensions and Job Centre Plus.
“We have extensive experience of using SWAPs to deliver high-quality training to meet the immediate and future skills needs of employers and are confident we can support the requirements of West Yorkshire Police to produce job-ready candidates.”
The courses will comprise of a variety of different modules including personal development for employability, working in a team, mental health awareness, equality and diversity, cyber security and safeguarding.
Anyone who successfully completes the three-week course will be offered additional support to help them progress through the recruitment process.
The first event takes place on Friday, November 18 from 11am at Bradford Eastbrook Court Job Centre, on Vicar Lane.
For more information, visit realisetraining.com.
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