Meet our class of #MDP50

This year marks 50 years since the MDP was first formed in 1971 and as we prepare for our anniversary, we introduce the ‘class of MDP 50’.

The 33 New Recruit officers of Grey Class (English Law) and 16 New Recruit officers of Yellow Class (Scottish Law) have recently passed the first stage of their initial police training at MDP HQ Wethersfield, and our temporary training facility at the Drumfork Centre in Helensburgh.

The students have now begun their firearms training at various locations across the Force and at the beginning of September, both classes will return to MDP HQ for a special 50th anniversary pass out parade.

Initial police training has included law and procedure, Public Safety Training, basic driver training and Public Order Level 3.

Upon completion of their initial training, Grey Class and Yellow Class were presented with their warrant cards by Chief Inspector Wilson, Head of Training, at MDP HQ and the Drumfork Centre: a proud occasion for all involved.

Grey Class New Recruit, Amy:

“It has been an incredible 10 weeks at Wethersfield. We are all very proud to have passed our exams first time.

“On behalf of the class, I would like to say a massive thank you to all our trainers.
They are an absolute credit to the training team and have worked so hard to prepare us for a career with the MDP. It has been an absolute pleasure to be taught by such great people.

“We’re now all really excited to be heading off to our Firearms course and look forward to coming back to HQ during the final week of training, for the special 50th anniversary pass-out parade. We’ve been practising every morning to perfect our march!”

MDP English Law trainer, PC Laing:

“Grey Class performed very well and showed a high degree of professionalism, hard work and resilience when completing every task that was placed before them.

“It was a great pleasure to train such an enthusiastic class and see them all progress as the weeks went on. I am extremely proud of all they have achieved. I wish them well in their firearms training and a long and successful career in our proud Force.”

MDP Scottish Law Trainer, PS Craig:

“This is the fourth course that we have run local to Clyde, since the beginning of the pandemic, with the last two also being held at the Drumfork Centre. The past year has been a challenging time for our training staff, having to adapt how and where we can deliver training, but everyone has performed exceptionally well despite the difficult circumstances.

“Yellow Class lived up to the MDP standards of behaviour from the very start, with positive feedback coming in regularly from stakeholders and our host at the centre. They were a pleasure to teach and worked well as a team, going above and beyond, at times, to ensure that everyone could achieve their goals. During training, the class also supported a local charity, Helensburgh Helping Others, who supply clothing to the homeless.

“On behalf of the training team, we are incredibly proud of this class and look forward to catching up with them all at the 50th anniversary celebration.”

We’ll be hearing more from our ‘Class of MDP 50’ as they carry out their firearms training and at the special anniversary pass-out parade in September.

Our next campaign for new recruits opens for applications in October. For more information visit: www.mod.police.uk