WOW! This placement is an opportunity you do not want to miss – it has definitely solidified my decision to go into the police force once I graduate.
Throughout this placement, I was given opportunities to experience real police work – moving through crime scene investigation, to interacting with the local community alongside officers, to cybercrime and financial crime, right through to major crime. At first, I really didn’t know what to expect, however, I got thrown into active investigations with officers and it really opened my eyes to the diversity of work that officers have to deal with every day.
My personal highlight of the placement was the day I spent with the crime scene investigation team. Every week with the police offered a different learning opportunity, each one amazing in its own way. However, on this day I was able to help with a live investigation surrounding a mass arson attack in Hull. I was definitely not stood on the side lines just watching on, I was able to help gather evidence, take photographs of the crime scene and even experienced dog handling. Partnered with Socks the spaniel, we were sent out to find traces of accelerant to discover whether it was an accident or an arson; *spoiler alert - it was a targeted arson attack*. Later in the day when the officers were writing reports up, I was able to go through past cases and look through crime scene photographs and I learnt how they build and present cases, with all the gadgets that they use to discover certain substances.
Honestly, do not let the application process put you off. Yes, it’s a competitive course and can be difficult to get on to, but it is definitely worth it! An experience that I will never forget.
Thank you to Hull University and Humberside Police.