Students get the drill on managing public order with the Met

More than 40 students studying Public Services at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) took part in the exercise with the force’s Territorial Support Group (TSG).

Officers gave students an introduction to the role of the TSG and explained how public order plays an important part in emergency incident response and management of events such as rallies, protests, sporting events, state visits and parades.

Insp Steve Wilson, Sgt Jim Meier, PC Sachin Vishram, PC Aaron Bidewell and PC Ruth Cooper led the training in the rear car park at the college’s Tottenham Centre.

Students learnt about command and control when managing large crowds including creating a shield, line holding, crowd direction and interacting with the public via a range of practical scenarios.

Practical parts of the training involved using equipment such as helmets, shields, armour, and door openers, which were wiped down to keep students COVID safe.

Student Mert Mustafa, 20, who wants to become a detective in the Met, said: “It really ignited my passion for joining the police and was a useful step in training for our upcoming careers. We got to try out police equipment, see how they work and what tactics they use in crowd management.”

Another student, Elif Sevinch, 22, who also wants to join the police, said: “We learnt a lot about what the police do at events and protests and how they control them, and also about ‘stop and search’ and what they have to explain to the public.

“It was a good experience that I can put on my CV and personal statement for university, which has also prepared me well for my career.”

The training formed part of practical units on Command and Control, Responding to Emergency Incidents, Interservice Collaboration, and Security and Discipline covered on Public Services diploma courses.

These courses also explain how the military and emergency services operate and provide students with knowledge on human behaviour and social issues, and develop their skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication.

Brendan Berry, Curriculum Manager for Public Services, said: “Public order training is a voluntary service undertaken by the police across the UK to provide students with the skills required to deal with a variety of public order situations safely and effectively.

“This was a fantastic opportunity, enabling learners to engage with the Metropolitan Police, and offer them an opportunity to gain skills needed for their future careers. We look forward to the Met’s next visit in January for the team to work again with our student community.”