Rural bobby wins new apprenticeship award

A High Peak police officer has been presented with an apprenticeship award by the University of Derby.

Claire Muir, from Glossop, won the inaugural Pippa Wilkinson Award for Apprentice Effort and Achievement, which is named after a worker on the university’s apprenticeship team and honours her ‘legacy of hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm’. 

PC Muir began her degree apprenticeship in 2021, earning first class honours for her dissertation and being attached to the county’s Rural Crime Team, where she helped colleagues understand the impact of countryside crimes. 

“I’m a country girl at heart, born and bred, and rural communities are my passion,” she said. “If I hear anything over the radio with a countryside connection, my ears prick up. 

“The costs associated with the theft of machinery alone are significant, and many crimes go unreported as farmers think it is a waste of time.  

“I want to change that mindset, improve public confidence, and give officers access to the knowledge to police rural Derbyshire effectively. 

“It sounds simple, but if officers build up that local information, such as which landowners or farmers you need to contact about stock in a particular field or know how to trace a sheep from its ear tag, they can make investigative connections that can get things resolved quickly.” 

The Pippa Wilkinson Award is for the apprentice across all courses at the University of Derby who has ‘demonstrated exceptional dedication and made significant contributions to their workplace’. 

“I did have times throughout the three years where I questioned the workload,” Claire said. 

“I was a full-time police officer doing the Uni work on top, trying to fit it all in on my rest days. I found myself nodding off when I tried to study at home, so I made myself travel up to Buxton to sit in the library.  

“I pushed myself, juggled, and had to plan what I was doing – even just to find half an hour here and there to make sure I got things done.” 

The Chief Constable of the Derbyshire Constabulary, Rachel Swann, attended the ceremony and said: “I’m full of admiration for Claire and the commitment she has shown to her studies. I know it hasn’t been easy at times for her, juggling the competing priorities of policing, university work and her family.  

“She should be immensely proud of her achievements. 

“It’s also great for police apprenticeships to be recognised by the university in this way, as they allow driven and talented individuals to gain a degree whilst also working hard to keep Derbyshire safe.”