STUDENTS in pursuit of a police career are being offered a prospective route on to the front-line thanks to a partnership between a North-East university and police force.

As part of their criminology degree at Sunderland University, second-year students have the chance to apply for a role as a special constable, with help and support through the recruitment process from Northumbria Police officers.

If successful, the voluntary role will be assessed and evaluated as part of a recently-introduced police module on the university course, which will help boost students’ personal life skills as well as enhancing their employment opportunities. This is the first time a university in the North-East has formed such a partnership, and to kick-start the recruitment process officers from Sunderland Central Neighbourhood Policing Team held a workshop with students.

Dr Lynn Keightley- Smith, a senior lecturer in criminology, designed the curriculum module, Policing – Past, Present and Future.

She teamed up with the university’s Neighbourhood Beat Manager PC Shane Jenness to develop the programme.

Dr Keightley-Smith said: “This is a two-way process – our students get the ideal opportunity to gain the skills necessary for employment and our local police get some quality special constables.

“Our students are really excited about the module that enables them to gain a theoretical understanding of the police organisation and the policies and legislation that drive it.”

Following on from the workshop, officers will be back early in the new year to help students with their application forms and the interview process.

Neighbourhood Chief Inspector George Maratty, of Sunderland Area Command, said: “What we are trying to achieve is an increase in the special constabulary as well as retain their services for a longer period of time.”