A PIONEERING foundation policing degree is being launched at the University of Central Lancashire’s Burnley Campus.

The university, which opened a centre in East Lancashire with Burnley College in September, has announced it will be offering the Foundation Degree in Policing from September.

In partnership with Lancashire Police the course, which can take up to 60 students, has been created for anyone who is considering pursuing a career with the police, either as a uniformed officer or as a member of police staff.

The two-year course is designed around the Police Learning and Development Programme that all new police recruits must complete.

And as a result, applicants will be given the opportunity to apply for membership as a Special Constable of Greater Manchester Police, British Transport Police or the Lancashire Constabulary.

Led by University of Central Lancashire’s School of Forensic and Investigative Science, a similar course was first introduced at the Preston campus in 2007 in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary.

Course leader Bob Helm said: “The programme is taught by current and former police officers and enables students to gain an academic qualification that mixes theory with the key, practical skills needed for entry into the police force.

“These skills are developed in the work- place and enable students to gain genuine operational experience."