A COST-CUTTING exercise by Kent police has robbed Canterbury Christ Church University of a lucrative education programme for new recruits.

The higher education certificate courses in policing have been terminated after three years and will be phased out at the end of next month.

Since October, 2004, all new Kent police recruits have undertaken a higher education certificate course at the university’s Canterbury and Medway campuses.

The Maidstone Kent Police College was used.

Kent police have decided not to use an external training provider following a recent tender process.

From the start of next year, all aspects of initial police training will be delivered in-house, at the Maidstone training centre.

In a statement the university said: “The university and Kent police have an excellent working relationship and the university will continue to deliver a range of other ongoing programmes for Kent police staff.

“These include the foundation degree in policing, the BSc (Hons) in policing and a range of management certificates and diplomas.

“The university also contributes to the training of Kent police’s crime scene investigation staff.”

More than 600 Kent police recruits have participated in the university’s training programme over the past three years. In that time, the police rookie courses have involved six university staff.