'Pepper spray', arrests and role-play shaping police of the future
BBCPolice officers rush to separate three people involved in a heated argument that is threatening to spill over into violence. A man, who is the main aggressor and shouting foul language, is pepper-sprayed and handcuffed by an officer as they bring the incident under control.
On this occasion, it is all part of the training for some of the student officers hoping to make the grade at Lincolnshire Police.
The people involved are actors and the spray is water, but it is an example of what trainees will be dealing with should they complete their two-year training course at the Nettleham HQ.
Two of the hopefuls dealing with the public order incident, one of four role-play scenarios on the day, are Kieran Skinner and Chloe Hallberg.
"We don't know what we're going into," says Skinner.
"We've got our training tools here, plastic baton, water pepper spray and we're just making decisions on the fly."
Hallberg adds: "We arrested one because he was getting a bit loud, a bit lairy, more than we'd like and he was the biggest one.
"Some of the scenarios do feel real. They get your adrenaline flowing."
In July, Lincolnshire Police was given the lowest performance grade in the country by the police watchdog.
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue (HMICFRS) said it found "widespread or systemic performance concerns".
The inspectorate said there were problems with emergency call response times, victim support, the effectiveness of inquiries where children are at risk or have been sexually exploited and the number of trained child abuse officers.
The force has also faced financial pressures over the past two years, with fears of redundancies and staff shortages threatening to undermine policing in the county.
However, following an increased budget announced in January, the force says its focus has shifted towards strengthening rather than cutting services, with more than 120 student officers signed up.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Chris Davison says student officers undergo a rigorous two-year training programme, combining classroom learning with practical exercises using role-players before moving on to placements with tutors at local stations.
They continue to receive support and monitoring as they develop their skills before qualifying as independent officers.
"It's a fantastic moment for us after so many years of finding it quite difficult with money," he says.
Both Skinner and Hallberg say they left careers in retail to pursue a job they had long wanted to do.
Skinner says that while TV dramas can make policing look appealing, his main reason for joining was the opportunity to serve his local community.
"It's what everyone says, but genuinely I want to make a difference," he says.
The student officers will soon begin working alongside tutors at local stations as they move into the next stage of their training.
Hallberg says she is looking forward to the challenge, although she expects to be nervous when she begins dealing with the public as an independent officer.
"It's daunting but exciting," she says.
So once the student officers start policing in communities across Lincolnshire, what will it mean for the public?
"It means more officers and staff," Davison explains.
He says that should help the force get to people more quickly, deal with issues more effectively and provide greater protection for vulnerable people.
"So, simply put, you should see more of us," he says.
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