The Met’s group of 196 new officer recruits have begun work on the Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF) programmes.

Studies are being led by Babcock Training and the Met in partnership with a consortium of four London-based universities: Anglia Ruskin University, Brunel University London, University of East London and University of West London.

The Met are among the last to begin the programme; North Yorkshire Police started in June last year.

Earlier this month, eight officers with Dyfed Powys became the first in England and Wales to complete the complete the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) at the University of South Wales.

The new training programmes are based on the National Police Curriculum, providing new recruits with the knowledge and skills police officers demonstrate every day.

The programmes have been developed by the College of Policing and are assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Babcock Training is part of the UK’s defence and infrastructure firm and is a major player in the apprentice training market.

The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) will award recruits a BSc (hons) degree in Professional Policing Practice upon successfully completing all elements of the programme.

The Degree-Holders Entry Programme (DHEP), which also includes a detective route, is for those already holding a degree, and will see them gain a Graduate Diploma in Policing on completion.

John Davies, Babcock’s Chief Executive (Land) said: “The successful mobilisation of this new training programme is a result of the excellent collaboration between the Met, our university partners and Babcock. We are proud of the role we play in preparing the next generation of police officers.”