Employers and residents in the south-east of England are being encouraged to get involved in training new police officers.
The Metropolitan Police is inviting businesses to help with practical role-plays and mock investigations as part of its 31-week induction course.
The scheme, which followed a governmental review on police officer training in 2000-02, is being run in Orpington, Kent, and five London boroughs. It could be rolled out across London during the next 18 months, according to sergeant Rob Smith from the Metropolitan Police.
“The main aim is to make officers familiar with the practical side of policing and put them closer to the communities they serve,” he said. “People in local boroughs can help us to do this.”
