QUESTION EVERYTHING, BECOME A DETECTIVE
National Detective Programme
Become a police detective
Society is changing. People demand better, for our communities, and from our police service. You want change: a real way to tackle the problems destroying people’s lives. You question everything, never accepting things the way they are. Despite barriers, you’re willing to do what it takes to change the world around you. By becoming a police detective, you can make this happen.
As a police detective, you’re the most critical support for victims of crime. What you choose to do, working in policing with dedicated colleagues to change it from within, will affect lives and improve perceptions for generations to come. The challenge is great and so is the need for talented graduates to step up to protect society’s most vulnerable.
Together with our partner police forces, we want to make things better. Are you willing to do what it takes to change the story?
Society is best served by a representative police force. By bringing your unique skills and experiences into policing, we can transform communities.
Choosing to be a detective is a serious career choice. Detectives are focused, work well under pressure and respond quickly to new information with a determined, positive attitude.
A career as a detective offers a competitive starting salary and benefits package compared to other graduate career choices, alongside opportunities for long-term career development.
You also get a unique chance to have an immediate and positive impact on the most vulnerable people in society.
Are you looking for an exciting career challenge? If you’re empathic, resilient, and determined, then whatever your background, you could join the next generation of police detectives.
Are you ready for change?
Are you searching for a career that makes a real and tangible impact on the world around you? If you’re a graduate, and you’ve got the qualities needed to become a police detective, our programme can support you to bring your skills and experiences into solving some of society’s most challenging problems.
You may not have considered a career in policing before, and you will no doubt have a number of questions related to making this change. Are you right for the police? What does the role look like day to day? What will your work life balance be? How does the programme work?
Our detectives come from all backgrounds; we are interested in your experiences which have provided you with key skills which can be transferred into your new role.
From the very beginning, you’ll be working on big societal issues and developing skills for a lifetime.
Sim Kaur | Detective Constable
Would you like to challenge yourself by putting your skills to use in a different setting?
Our detectives come from a range of industries and sectors; we want you to bring your unique perspective, experiences, and ideas to the role.
Whatever sector you currently work in, the skills you have can be translated into a successful career as a police detective.
Skills such as resilience, teamwork, and emotional awareness are all critical to the role.
Our National Detective Programme offers:
- paid training at the 14-week academy
- a competitive starting salary and benefits package
- support and development opportunities during and beyond the two-year programme
- a network of other participants joining the programme at the same time, including other career changers
- a chance to have an immediate and positive impact on the most vulnerable people in society
Supporting your career change
We offer a range of support to participants who retrain on our programmes:
- You will be assigned a recruitment officer to guide you through vetting and pre-employment checks once you’ve received a conditional offer for the programme.
- You will have access to a Performance Development Coach (PDC) who acts as your coach and advocate during the two-year programme. Whilst you navigate a new career, they can offer support in areas such as: confidence, imposter syndrome, utilising transferable skills and maximising your potential in your new role.
- Following completion of the programme you will automatically join our growing alumni community and be supported in your next steps by Police Now’s Alumni and Ambassadors team. There are alumni networks you can get involved with, promotion and ongoing professional development support, events, and our Frontline Leadership Programme available in many forces.
Catherine Jolliffe | Detective Constable
Could this be you?
“I started my career in finance working with renewable energies, and then when I started my family, in order to do something a bit more flexible around having young children, I set up my own business and I was involved in that 10 years before joining the Police Now Programme.
I had actually never considered a career in the police. I was looking for something different. I wanted to be part of a bigger organisation. So that’s really where I started from, and I was struggling to find a career that fitted with my values because I’m quite a values-driven person, then I saw the Police Now campaign.”
Check that you are eligible to apply
Some of the key requirements you must meet include:
- Age - You must be over the age of 17 years at the time of your application.
- Residency - You’ll need to have resided in the UK continuously for the past three years, at least.
- Nationality - You can be of any nationality to apply, providing you have the status of indefinite leave to remain and work in the UK.
- Academic qualifications - You must have, or be predicted to achieve, a minimum 2:2 undergraduate degree from a university in the UK, or an equivalent from a non-UK university.
You cannot apply if you have previously attested and served as a police officer. However, you are eligible to apply if you are currently or have been a police cadet, special constable, PCSO or member of police staff for any force.
Applications now open
Applications OPENING SOON
Applications now closed
Applications for the Police Now National Detective Programme are now closed. If you’re interested in the programme, please register your interest for future intakes coming soon.
- Create an account online.
- You can save the progress of your application and submit it at a later stage.
- The first part of the application is a simple set of questions (mostly drop-down) to gather your personal information and check that you're eligible for the programme.
- This part of the application should take you no longer than 30 minutes to complete, and can be completed on mobile.
- Remember places on the programme are limited and fill fast, so submit your application as soon as you feel ready.
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FAQs
Do you have questions about applying? From eligibility, to what the training will involve.
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