Following the early success of the pilot programme, in January 2021, we partnered with 14 forces across England and Wales for the second National Detective Programme.
Of those who started on Police Now’s National Detective Programme in 2021, 66% identify as women, 24% identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, 16% identify as women from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, 10% identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and 13% received free school meals. They graduated from 85 different academic institutions with 29 languages spoken across the cohort. 80% of participants are career changers, with the remaining 20% being recent university graduates.
Participants begin the National Detective Programme with an initial three-month intensive Police Now Academy which involves theoretical teaching, practical field training and a focus on developing both core policing skills and an investigative mindset.
Police Now uses data and feedback to continuously develop and strengthen our recruitment and training programmes. Based on our learning from the pilot programme, for the second National Detective Programme, we have implemented a number of changes to our recruitment campaign and the delivery of the academy. This includes an integrated marketing campaign featuring current programme participants and a new blended and immersive online assessment, designed to bring the realities of the Detective role and two-year programme to life. We have also developed a newly defined learning journey and training structure to enhance participant learning and wellbeing at the academy.