The Police Scotland Positive Action Team based at Force Training and Recruitment Centre (FTRC), Jackton are currently running a four week Introduction to Policing programme aimed at attracting/recruiting members from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and under represented community groups to consider a career with Police Scotland.
Session two of this programme took place at The Scottish Police College, Tulliallan on Sunday 22 January 2017. This event, the first of its kind run in the UK, is a groundbreaking and innovative concept assembled by the Positive Action Team to showcase Police Scotland as an attractive career for BME communities.
Speaking with Chief Inspector Ann Bell, it is obvious that Police Scotland has put in a lot of effort to ensure that it mirrors the community that is serves. “The more BME’s we have, the easier it will be for the communities to relate with us”, she said.
It is hoped that this programme will enhance and improve candidates’ knowledge of the selection process including the Standard Entrance Test (SET), standards/ fitness and the interview process It is hoped that upon conclusion of the programme this new knowledge of the selection process will lead to an increased confidence when submitting an application for the role of Police Officer.
During session two candidates participated in a mock fitness and received information on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They also received presentations from the Chief Constable Phil Gormley QPM, Chief Supt Brian McInulty, Divisional Commander G Division and Supt Faroque Hussain, U Division. Candidates were accompanied by family members and received a tour of the facility.
This event was attended by 113 guests – which included the 54 candidates who enrolled onto the Introduction To Policing programme and their family members – the candidates formed a diverse group which included Africans, Sikhs, Muslims, Latvians, Albanians, Spanish, Polish, Russians and those with a Middle Eastern heritage.
Representatives from the Sikh and Muslim communities, mosque committee members and African Forum Scotland were also in attendance.
Police Scotland Youth Volunteers and Special Constables were on hand to ensure the smooth running of the event.
African Forum Scotland’s media arm ABCi Media, Sikh Channel, GEO TV and the Daily Jang (Pakistani newspaper) covered this event as well as the Daily Record and Herald newspapers.
The event proved extremely successful during which some of the candidates commented that the support they received from the Positive Action Team would ultimately lead them to pursuing a career with Police Scotland either as a Special or regular Constable”
Interested candidates can contact Police Scotland on http://www.scotland.police.uk/ Twitter: @policescotland
Facebook: www.facebook.com/policescotland