Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has called on the Home Secretary NOT to make policing an all-graduate career.

Marc Jones has warned that such a scheme could exclude older recruits, including those from military backgrounds.

He also said he had spoken to officers who told him they would "rather have a former soldier next to them" when dealing with a nightclub fight than someone with a '2:1 in expressive dance."

Mr Jones, who was re-elected in May as Lincolnshire PCC is also the incoming chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Conservative told yesterday's Sunday Telegraph that plans to make policing an all-graduate profession risked weakening the frontline by deterring older, experienced recruits like former soldiers.

The College of Policing has devised plans for all-graduate recruitment of police officers but they have yet to be mandated by Home Secretary Priti Patel. They would either need a degree before joining the police or join as an apprentice for three years and study for one while on the job.

Mr Jones urged the college and Home Secretary to keep open a third route for non-graduates, noting other companies like Google are moving in the opposite direction by opening up to school leavers and non-graduates

Mr Jones added: "Policing should reflect the society it serves and two-thirds of people in our country are without with a degree."

He also warned that it could encourage people to sign up to the police as an apprentice, get a degree, and then leave after five years with the average £50,000 cost then falling to the police.

Lincolnshire police claim it will treble the proportion leaving after five years from 10 per cent to 35 per cent, the Sunday Telegraph also reported.

The Mail on Sunday also reported Mr Jones' comments follow those of Nick Adderley, chief constable of Northamptonshire Constabulary.

He told Police Oracle, police recruits joining after university are not prepared to work nights or weekends and are 'sadly lacking' in life experience.