Lincolnshire Police is challenging the College of Policing’s demand that new recruits have a degree, three-year apprenticeship or postgraduate conversion course.

The college announced the new rule in 2016, with the changes due to come into effect this year.

Lincolnshire Police claims the additional training will remove about 40 officers from the front line while they complete their studies, 10 per cent of its deployable strength.

It is thought that, nationally, this could cause delays in 4,000 officers joining the police.

The force wants the policy paused until at least 2023.

Mr Skelly said: “In the meantime we are developing an enhanced initial training package that meets the requirements of the modern police officer without creating an unaffordable impact on the police service in Lincolnshire.”

The news comes as the university watchdog sounded warnings over grade inflation. The Office for Students said there has been an 80 per cent rise in the proportion of students in England awarded first-class degrees since 2010-11 and that, for almost three-quarters of universities, such increases are “unexplained”.

“Worries about grade inflation threaten to devalue a university education in the eyes of employers and potential students,” said Susan Lapworth, director of competition for the Office for Students.