How to apply

Start your journey into policing

A clear, supported path into policing – discover what to expect, how to prepare for and everything you need to succeed.

Have you already started an application?

Start your application

We’ve streamlined the first stage of applying. It’s quick, mobile-friendly and designed to support you at every step.

Create your account

Set up your profile to begin your application. You can save your progress and return anytime.

Initial eligibility check

We’ll ask a few simple questions to make sure you’re eligible to apply – nothing tricky.

Select your preferred specialism and police force

When applying to our National Graduate Programme, you will have a choice of specialisms and police forces to apply for.

Our specialisms include:

Neighbourhood
Detective
Counter Terrorism
Economic Crime

Share your personal details

Tell us about your background. We’ll ask about your education and a few other essentials. It’s all straightforward and we only ask what we need to know.

Submit your application form

No CV, cover letter or written essays – just clear, direct questions. You can apply on desktop or mobile in around 30 minutes.

What happens next

Our award-winning, immersive process helps you show your potential and understand the role. Every step is designed to be fair, supportive and clear – because we believe great applicants deserve a great experience.

Immersive assessment

1

Complete an online task based on realistic policing scenarios. No previous experience needed.

Assessment centre

2

Join a virtual assessment with group activities, interviews and role plays. We’re here to help you prepare.

Conditional offer

3

If successful, we’ll make you a conditional offer and introduce you to next steps with your chosen police force.

Onboarding

4

Vetting, medical checks, support from your dedicated recruitment officer, and getting ready for the Academy.

Induction / academy

5

Join our national award-winning training Academy. Learn, lead, and prepare for day one in your role.

Hints and tips

Prepare for the assessment stages of the application journey with our helpful hints and tips.

Neighbourhood

Detective

Real people, real journeys

Hear from participants who’ve been through the process and gone on to lead in their communities.

"What attracted me to the Police Now programme was the opportunity to make real change."

Emma Adams, Police Now graduate

“I used to be a music teacher before I joined the police – now I’m part of something bigger.”

Caroline Anderson, Police Now graduate

“I studied Mathematics… but policing gave me a way to apply my skills to something meaningful.”

Anokhi Chouhan, Police Now graduate

“I started my career in finance... but wanted something with a real purpose – that’s what I found in policing.”

Catherine Joliffe, Police Now graduate

Frequently asked questions

How will I be supported?

You’ll have a dedicated recruitment officer throughout the process, and adjustments are available if you need them.

What's the process like?

It’s designed to be inclusive, immersive and clear – with each stage helping you showcase your strengths.

What is vetting?

Vetting is the process by where you disclose any information that may affect your suitability to become a police officer.

Find out more about what you need to declare on our Vetting Process page.

How and when will I be contacted?

We’ll keep you updated regularly by email, and your recruitment officer is always there if you have questions.

What if I need adjustments?

Just let us know. We offer a range of support to make sure you’re treated fairly at every step.

How long does it take?

From submitting your online application to receiving a conditional offer, this can take as little as 2-3 weeks depending on your availability and how quickly you complete each stage.

Once you receive your conditional offer, you will begin the vetting process which typically takes 2-4 months depending on your personal circumstances and how promptly you complete each step. Timeframes may also vary by force.

Core requirements

Am I eligible?

To be eligible to join our programme you must:

Before you apply, make sure to read our full eligibilty criteria.

*Dependent on force

Current vacancies

2026 Police Now National Graduate Programme - Neighbourhood

Start date: March 2026

Salary: £29,907

Deadline: 5th September

Locations: Avon and Somerset, Dyfed-Powys

Neighbourhood police officers are more than uniforms: they’re problem solvers, change-makers, and protectors at the heart of the community.

2026 Police Now National Graduate Programme - Detective

Start date: March 2026

Salary: £29,907

Deadline: 31st July

Location: Humberside

Detectives work on varied investigations, support victims of crime; and bring offenders to justice.

We don't have any live vacancies at the moment...

If you are interested in a career that makes a real difference, find out more about our programmes and register your interest to be the first to hear when applications open.

Neighbourhood Policing

Neighbourhood police officers are more than uniforms: they’re problem solvers, change-makers, and protectors at the heart of the community.

Detective

Detectives work on varied investigations, support victims of crime, and brng offenders to justice.

Support when you need it

We’re here for you throughout the journey. From application to onboarding, your dedicated recruitment officer is just a message away.

Application and eligibility

Have a question or query about the application process?

Need adjustments?

Need to request application support? We’re here to help.

Assessment support

Explore our tips and advice for the assessment stages.

Use our live chat

We are usually online and available for live chat from Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm.

How to apply

Start your journey into policing

Have you already started an application?

Start your application

What happens next

Immersive assessment

1

Assessment centre

2

Conditional offer

3

Onboarding

4

Induction / academy

5

Hints and tips

Real people, real journeys

"What attracted me to the Police Now programme was the opportunity to make real change."

Emma Adams, Police Now graduate

Read more

“I used to be a music teacher before I joined the police – now I’m part of something bigger.”

Caroline Anderson, Police Now graduate

Read more

“I studied Mathematics… but policing gave me a way to apply my skills to something meaningful.”

Anokhi Chouhan, Police Now graduate

Read more

“I started my career in finance... but wanted something with a real purpose – that’s what I found in policing.”

Catherine Joliffe, Police Now graduate

Read more

Frequently asked questions

Core requirements

To be eligible to join our programme you must:

Current vacancies

2026 Police Now National Graduate Programme - Neighbourhood

2026 Police Now National Graduate Programme - Detective

We don't have any live vacancies at the moment...

Support when you need it

Application and eligibility

Need adjustments?

Assessment support

Use our live chat

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Name Here, Police Now graduate

Dorset Police

Scott Chilton

Chief Constable

National Graduate Leadership Programme

National Detective Programme