These Preston students will soon be pounding the beat and taking their first steps on becoming serving police officers.

Policing students at the University of Central Lancashire have been sworn in as special constables for Lancashire Police and British Transport Police.

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A ceremony was held to mark the occasion ahead of the 36 students joining the ranks.

Principal lecturer and academic lead for policing Clive Tattum said: “The UCLan Foundation Degree in Policing has a proven and long standing record of preparing students for a career in policing. Year on year our students have found full time careers as police officers with our partner police forces Lancashire Constabulary and British Transport Police, and other police forces nationally. This is further proof of the role that higher education has in preparing students for the challenges of policing and serving the public.

“I am proud once again to see another cohort of UCLan students being accepted into the policing family as Special Constables and take their first step onto their career ladder with a bright future ahead of them.”

Each student has to do 16 hours a week during their two year course as a special constable.

New recruit Emma Lynn said: “We’ve already learned a lot during the first six months and I expect we’ll all grow dramatically as people once we begin the job. I’m looking forward to getting started and being a police officer in training as well as a student.”

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A pilot scheme is running seeing foundation students offered permanent police officer jobs after their course.

BTP Superintendent Kyle Gordon said: “Special Constables are an integral part of the BTP policing family and last year across the UK contributed £3million worth of activity to keeping the travelling public safe. Policing is following other public service occupations and professionalising its workforce through the creation of a professional body for policing and an increase in academic utilisation across the ranks.

“Linking with high calibre universities such as UCLan is an important part of delivering this vision. We are delighted to welcome our latest recruits who will no doubt make a valuable contribution to keeping the travelling public safe and the rail network free from crime.”