I decided to join the Level 3 policing course because I wanted a direct pathway into the police.
Sixth form didn’t offer a policing course, and I felt this option would give me the best preparation and insight into the role.
As part of my course I've been involved with a partnership with Kent Police where we get to help train new officers by taking on roles, acting like the public. One of the key experiences for me was a traffic collision roleplay. I played the role of a driver who had reversed into another vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The officers responded to the incident as they would in real life, including breathalysing me, reading my caution, arresting me, handcuffing me, and carrying out PNC checks on both the driver and vehicles. My breathalyser reading was over the legal limit, which led to my "arrest" for drink driving.
This scenario helped me understand police powers and I also learned how traffic incidents are managed, from gathering details at the scene to checking insurance and MOTs.
Before the roleplay, I was undecided between traffic policing and response. Taking part in this scenario helped me realise that I’m more interested in response policing because of the variety of incidents and situations officers deal with. The course has given me practical experience and confidence, and I plan to go straight into employment after completing it, using what I’ve learned to support my career in the police.
