POLICE officers swapped uniforms and helmets for caps and gowns for the first graduation ceremony in the history of West Mercia force.

The degrees in professional policing were awarded at a ceremony at Hindlip Hall, near Worcester.

Thirty-four officers collected foundation degrees from Chief Constable Paul West, chairman of the police authority Paul Deneen and the deputy vice chancellor of the University of Teesside, Professor Cliff Allan.

They are the first of West Mercia’s officers to receive the degree, introduced as part of the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme in 2006.

As a result of the changes made nationally to police officer training, West Mercia Constabulary began working with the University of Teesside to design and deliver a training programme.

The officers put into practise what they learned on patrol and were able to work with specialists from various police departments such as interview and road policing teams during the course.

Graduates from north Worcestershire included Edward Banks, Louise Bradbury, Matthew Brittain, Anna Harding, David Pengelly, Lee Wycherley, Ruth Hemingway, Frances Jennings, Kirsty Norris and Imran Varachhia.

Graduates from south Worcestershire were Matthew Cartwright, Andrew Farmer, Verity Farr, Howard Fletcher, Richard Foxall, Jemma Greenow, Jonathan Newton, Lee Palmer and Gary Shepheard.

Inspector Neil Lamputt, professional development unit manager for the force, said: “We are very proud of all the officers who received their foundation degree this evening, they have worked hard to achieve it.”

Mr West said: “This was a very special occasion for West Mercia Constabulary and I was delighted to be able to award the first officers to complete the programm with their foundation degrees.”

In 2006 police officer training underwent a radical overhaul with training being moved from large regional training centres to local ones.

West Mercia’s training takes place at Wellington in Telford and at Hindlip Hall.

The community style of training means student officers are no longer expected to spend long periods of time away from their families.

The force says the training enables it to provide student officers with all the skills and knowledge they need to become practical and competent police officers.