An apprentice officer studying at the University of Salford has been named policing apprentice of the year, earning recognition from both the university and Greater Manchester Police.
Police Constable Luke Rawcliffe is completing the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Salford in partnership with Greater Manchester Police. He received the award following a nomination by a retired detective who now works as a trainer at the university.
The award recognises achievement within the policing apprentice of the year category and highlights the contribution of apprentices studying through the University of Salford programme.
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship combines frontline policing with academic study. PC Rawcliffe has balanced operational duties with university coursework throughout his training.
Based within the E Relief response team in Wigan, he has built a reputation as one of the division’s strongest performers. Supervisors say his figures for stop searches, arrests, vehicle stops and overall workload regularly place him among the highest performing officers on the team.
During his apprenticeship, he suffered a broken leg while representing Wigan in a football tournament. Despite the setback, he returned to complete his studies and achieved a 2.1 classification in his degree.
Colleagues at the University of Salford and Greater Manchester Police have described him as committed and resilient, adding that he has set a strong example for other apprentices on the programme.
PC Rawcliffe said, “It came as such a surprise to me, winning, I felt so happy and proud. It was also really nice to bring some recognition to the district and relief team E.
“I always had an interest in joining the police, I like helping people, becoming an officer was the perfect fit for me.
“The award felt even more special as I broke my ankle not too long ago and I thought this was going to delay my career. When I got back from my injury, I completed university degree gaining a 2.1.
“This award was a massive bonus.”
As Manchester prepares to host the Brit Awards, PC Rawcliffe was also asked about his favourite British band.
He said, “It’s tough to pick my favourite band there are a few, Oasis, The Verve, The Lathums, but it would have to be Oasis.”
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