Aspiranten : Från skyddad verkstad till verklighet

Sammanfattning: It takes 2,5 years to become a police officer in Sweden. Two years of studying is followed by 6 months of apprenticeship, also known as police cadet. One must accomplish the police cadet program to become a police officer. This study investigates the quality of educating Swedish police cadets and how it prepares students to become police officers. Data collection is based on qualitative interviews with police officers who recently conducted the police cadet program in a specific police area in southern Sweden. The study shows that the program prepares students for their professional lives and that the program functions well. However, it also shows the potential for improvements in how evaluations of cadets are conducted and the importance of choosing good instructors and supervisors for the assignments. Conclusively, the study highlights the importance of guidance, the relationship to the instructors and supervisors, but also the difference between education and employment. The participants express having experienced a major gap between education and employment. As a result, the Swedish police academy should strive to minimize the gap between studying to become a police officer and to become employed as a police officer to increase the level of preparation for students.