There's no reason to fear policing becoming a 'graduate-level' job says Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson.

But he feels that entry to the force should be open to everyone and not dependent on academic qualifications.

The elected official on political control of the police force said he was reminded of the two apprenticeships he served as a young man at the start of his career - and said that he feels a degree in policing could be the outcome of a successful apprenticeship for entrants to the force.

In the blog on the PCC website Mr Macpherson said: "I've been listening to a debate on apprenticeships and degree entry for policing at Ryton-on-Dunsmore in Warwickshire today. It made me reflect that I served two apprenticeships, back to back.

"Firstly I joined Hoover as a management trainee. As part of that apprenticeship I spent six months each year working in various departments and six months at college.

"At the end of the apprenticeship I was awarded a degree, part of which was for a research project on behalf of Hoover.

"I had joined Hoover because I wanted to pursue a career in personnel management.

"But as a result of my experiences at work, and the enjoyment I gained from exposure to the world of business finance, my final project was about predicting cash flow for the company.

"As I had only rudimentary access to computing power, I decided to seek a second apprenticeship as a chartered accountant. I joined the city firm of Turquand Barton & Mayhew as an articled clerk.

"I worked during the day on audits and studied in the evenings with a block release to college for a couple of months before each exam. After a resit of the final exams I qualified as a chartered accountant.

"When we talk about apprenticeships, I'm a firm supporter. A degree in policing might be the award achieved from a successful apprenticeship.

"Let's not be frightened by policing becoming a graduate entry profession, but ensure the entry is available to people from a wide range of backgrounds and is not based solely on academic ability at the point of entry."