Police
Related careers
You may be interested in:
Work Experience & vOLUNTEERING
Examples of work experience can be a range of things but here are some ideas:
First Aid rep - St Johns Ambulance or British Red Cross
Police Cadets- can be done up to aged 18 and will give you lots of public volunteering
Special Constable - most popular way to get into police volunteering placement
Working in a different part of the police - ie communications, forensic, law for example
Working in an emergency or NHS setting - Nurse, Healthcare Assistant, Prison Warden, Security
You'll need to contact your local police force to apply.
Each police force has its own recruitment rules, but the basic guidelines are the same. You'll need to:
be aged 18 or over
be a British or Commonwealth citizen, a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen, or a foreign national with the right to stay and work in the UK for an indefinite period
pass background and security checks, and give details of any previous convictions
Entry Routes- how do you join the police?
There are four available routes to becoming a police officer, depending on your qualifications and experience. These are:
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) - available in England and Wales. This route usually takes three years to complete and provides the opportunity to both learn and earn while working and studying for a degree in Professional Policing Practice. You'll typically need a level 3 qualification (two A-levels or equivalent) or equivalent work experience such as a special constable, for example.
Degree holder entry (DHEP) - graduates with a degree in any subject can apply for a two-year work-based training programme, paid for by the force you work for, that includes off-the-job learning. Successful completion of the programme leads to a Level 6 Post-Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.
Pre-joining degree - a self-funded, three-year academic degree in professional policing undertaken at a university or college before you join the police. Completion of the degree doesn't guarantee you a job and you'll need to apply for a job as a police constable within five years of graduation. Check with course providers for entry requirements.
Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) - this is a new entry programme, introduced in April 2024. It does not require you to study for a qualification and normally takes two years, after which, if you successfully complete probation, you become a PC. You’ll typically need a level 3 qualification (two A-levels or equivalent) or equivalent work experience such as a special constable.
For list of the police forces in the UK click here : https://www.police.uk/pu/find-a-police-force/
Ways to get into policing: https://www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/application-process/ways-in-to-policing
Our National Detective Programme has been designed to allow participants to take ownership of situations within an ever-changing criminal landscape. You’ll be an investigator, taking on a lot of responsibility in your role to manage a diverse caseload. In everything you do, you’ll be adaptive to change, eager to find solutions to complex problems, maintain a flexible view as situations change and be able to show compassion to the communities you will serve.
PCSO ROLE
For the role of PCSO click the links below :
PCSO Job profile
https://www.college.police.uk/career-learning/joining-police/joining-pcso
https://www.college.police.uk/career-learning/joining-police/joining-pcso/handbook
application support
employers / Police forces
There are currently 45 police forces in the UK. With 43 in England and Wales and one single force in Scotland (Police Scotland) and Northern Ireland (Police Service of Northern Ireland). In Northern Ireland, chief constables report to local police authorities (known as the Policing Board (NIPB) in Northern Ireland), which are independent statutory bodies identifying the strategic direction of police services.
Special police forces
British Transport police (BTP)
BTP cover the rail network across the UK.
Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC)
CNC cover non-military nuclear installations and non-military nuclear material when it's being transported.
Ministry of Defence Police (MDP)
MDP cover Ministry of Defence property and personnel as well as nuclear weapons and nuclear materials in the UK.
Career Videos
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Police Officer recruit assessment