It's usually hard to know what Arthur's on about but I reckon he's referring to pre-entry college courses such as these.
http://www.emagister.co.uk/colleges/...dProvincia=415
These have to be paid for in the same way as any others do and the costs involved have nothing directly to do with the Police.
With some age, income and other exceptions, the days of free further and higher education are gone so if my son wants to do a course to help him progress into his choice of career I don't see why he shouldn't have to pay for it just like Arthur's.