We’re excited to share that MidKent College has become the only college in Kent to partner directly with Kent Police on live officer training.
This gave Policing students a rare opportunity to step inside Kent Police Headquarters and take part in real, scenario-based training alongside student police officers.
Students will attend regular sessions at the Kent Police Training College, where they will act as role players in realistic, high-pressure policing scenarios. These include public order incidents, stop and search encounters, and disturbance situations, allowing students to experience policing training first-hand while supporting the development of future police officers.
By acting as members of the public during live exercises, MKC students gain valuable insight into police procedures, legislation, and decision-making under pressure, while also building early professional relationships with officers who may one day become their instructors or colleagues.
Lily Rose Matthews a year one Level 3 Policing student described one of the scenarios she’s been involved in:
“The situation involved a victim, an informant, a suspect believed to be carrying a knife, and an obstructive member of the public. We rotated roles, which meant I got to experience every part of the incident. I played the victim, where I had to give information to officers, the suspect, where I was handcuffed and searched, and the bystander, I saw how officers deal with challenging behaviour.
Even though it was a simulation…It helped me understand how I would need to act as an officer and what policing looks like in real situations. The experience actually made me more motivated and excited about joining the police.”
William Knight a year 2 student highlighted the intensity and realism of the scenarios:
“One of the scenarios took place on a bus, where we acted as rowdy teenagers towards two police officers, with our tutor playing the bus driver. The situation escalated quickly, with people being removed from the bus, detained, and arrested. It was fun! Although we’re not carrying out the policing ourselves, watching how officers handle situations and listening to the feedback given by instructors is really helpful.”
The partnership has been developed to enhance employability, confidence, and preparedness for students aiming to join the police service. Alongside the scenario training, MidKent College’s Policing students benefit from a curriculum led by former police officers, enrichment activities, and direct input from Kent Police engagement and wellbeing teams who join students as guest speakers in lessons.
Stuart Mitchell, Policing Tutor at MidKent College, said the partnership represents a major opportunity for students:
“This experience allows our students to move beyond theory and see policing in action. Being embedded in live training scenarios gives them a realistic understanding of the role, helps them build professional confidence, and creates early links with the police service that will support them in their future careers. It’s also a unique experience, with MidKent College being the only College in Kent to have this opportunity”
The partnership will run throughout the academic year, with regular visits to Kent Police Headquarters.
We’ll be keeping up with the students as the partnership develops, sharing their experiences and progress as they take their next steps towards a career in policing!
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