The Armed Forces Covenant
Hello my name is Nick Adderley and I'm the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police. I'm also an ex-Royal Navy member of the Armed Forces. I am delighted to share with you that Northamptonshire Police really are supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant so much so that we re-signed our commitment earlier last week.
So what does that mean? Well, it means that Northamptonshire Police will support and mentor people from the Armed Forces who want to transition into policing. It also means that we respect the reservists and their commitment by giving 15 days paid leave each year so that they can fulfil their commitments. It also means that people from the Armed Forces that want to come into the police who actually want to be adult cadet volunteers also get the same 15 days paid so that they can support the cadet scheme as we move forward, and we help young people develop too.
The big thing around all of this though is that we are here to support, as I said earlier, and to mentor people. The transition from the Armed Forces into policing isn't that difficult but actually to tread that path with the support and mentoring of colleagues who are already in the service and most notably who are Armed Forces or ex-Armed Forces makes that journey that little bit easier.
The other thing that I want to say, furthering our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant is that Northamptonshire Police, me as the Chief Constable, and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mr Stephen Mold, we made it clear to the Home Office that they ought to keep open the non-degree route entry into policing. I'm delighted to tell you that due to those efforts, and other people too, that we were successful and the Home Secretary has now indeed instructed the College of Policing to look at alternative routes into policing which do not require a degree or do not require people to study for a degree.
So if you are ex-Armed Forces or if you are about to leave the Forces, please know that here, in Northamptonshire Police, we are strong supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant and we will do all that we can to make your journey and transition as pleasurable as it can be. Thank you.
Northamptonshire Police are proud to support the UK's military forces and to be a part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to support servicemen and women and their families.
In 2017, Northamptonshire Police first signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge to treat service personnel and their families with fairness and respect, and received the ERS Silver Award in 2022.
Written into law, the covenant states that Armed Forces personnel, veterans or their families will not be disadvantaged by their military life when accessing goods and services, compared to other citizens. It also recognises that in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved. In signing the Covenant, we have pledged to publicise our commitment to its principles, and support our Armed Forces community.
Read more about the re-signing ceremony.