Police officers are expected to perform a highly responsible job. The safety and quality of life of the public are in their hands and for this reason, only the very best officers are ever chosen for the job. After the very best candidates are selected, they must be trained so that they are perfectly equipped to carry out their tasks. Police recruits must be given the skills and knowledge as well as practical information that will be so very useful when they are put in charge of public safety. Police training Hendon, is the foremost police training facility used by the Metropolitan police.
The Hendon police college was opened in 1934 by the Prince of Wales. The idea came from Lord Trenchard who was the old metropolitan police commissioner from 1931 to 1935. His experience in the Flying Corps would have equipped him well with the experience necessary to establish an organisation still around today.
The college that came about after this idea was made. The college was modern and adapted a more scientific approach to study and teaching. As well as a driving school and detective training academy, there was a forensic laboratory, something that was a complete first in those times for a police training college.
The facility was closed for a decade starting 1939 after the royal air force decided to move away from the location. However, as it had been such a useful facility, the Police training Hendon was rebuilt and named the Peel Centre – after Sir Robert Peel. This was in 1974 and the centre was opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Coincidentally, this was exactly 40 years after her uncle had opened the original college.
Its current day usage is no less interesting: It is currently run by the Director of Police Training and is busier than ever. Between 2,000 and 2,500 officers pass through the centre each year on its 25 week course. This is the longer version of the 17 week course that ran its final year in 2007.
The centre is also very modern and runs courses on all aspects of police work. This includes forensic investigation as well as driving skills. There is even a department for the investigation of serious crimes and a sports facility.
As part of the college you will find a mocked up court room, a road system for training traffic police officers and an old police station which is no longer in use. All of these facilities put it at the very forefront of police training. In case you were wondering, all the courses are non-residential.
Police officers have to be the very best in terms of their responsibility and suitably to the job. Unfortunately, this is not enough to make them a police officer. Training is required. Police training Hendon is one of the best training facilities in the world. The fact that it is still in use today is a great testament to this and with hope, many more officers will pass through its doors in years to come.
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