Polegate welcomes new police recruit as part of new ‘fast track detectives’ programme

Police constable Hannah Richards is one of the additional officers taken on by Sussex Police with the funding from a national government campaign.

Ms Richards, from Bexhill, is training with East Sussex Dedicated Coaching Unit in Polegate and made her first arrest on her sixth shift after pursuing a shoplifter on foot.

The suspect was charged on suspicion of shoplifting and a further five charges for outstanding offences.

Ms Richards’ handling of the case file earned her the praise of a supervisor in the Criminal Investigation Department.

Ms Richards said, “It gave me a confidence boost, and I was pleased to get my first one under my belt. It’s been a steep learning curve but I am enjoying it.”

She won a regional Daily Mirror Pride of Britain award for her devoted charity work to help prevent suicide and support those affected after her brother took his own life three years ago.

Ms Richards said, “Having been on the receiving end of bad news from police officers I feel I can empathise and demonstrate a great deal of compassion to victims of crime and those who have experienced sudden loss,

“I spoke publicly about my brother’s suicide in the media to raise awareness and help create positive change. It was this desire to make a difference and be there for others at their time of greatest need that motivated me to join the police.”

“It’s been a challenging time to join up but I want to help the community and support the vulnerable at this time. Even the smallest gestures can make a world of difference to someone at the moment.”

The uptake of new recruits means that Sussex Police has completed its uplift of officers as part of the government campaign.

The recruits are the police’s first ‘fast track detectives’ as they’re thrown into a new two-year detective constable training programme for degree-holders that will help accelerate the development of specialist officers.

Just four weeks in the new officers have attended a variety of incidents as well as undertaking some high visibility Covid patrols.

Adrian Rutherford, director of people’s services at Sussex Police, said, “I am very impressed with the impact that these new officers and their colleagues on the programme have already made in their earliest days of operational policing.

“They have undertaken their intensive initial training and joined our frontline at the height of the pandemic, yet have shown a proactive determination to make a positive difference to our communities and our policing teams in these most challenging times.

“I am very proud that Sussex, in partnership with the University of Cumbria, was amongst the first two forces nationally to launch the Detective Constable Degree-Holder Entry Programme.

“I am heartened by the great start all of these new officers have made and I am confident they will continue making a positive difference to the people of Sussex beyond these difficult times.”

Police & Crime Commissioner for Sussex Katy Bourne, said, “I’m delighted that Sussex Police is leading the way in forward-thinking recruitment – being one of the first forces to offer this new entry route into policing is a huge achievement and the force is to be commended for its progressive approach.

“Sussex Police is demonstrating how it is prepared to meet challenges head-on in the rapidly changing landscape of 21st century policing and I’m incredibly impressed with the impact that these officers have made in such a short space of time.

“Recruitment to Sussex Police has continued despite the Covid pandemic with a welcome determination from the chief constable to provide the extra boots on the ground and visible policing in our communities that residents have asked for.”