National Detective Programme

A rewarding career

Bristol community shot 1
Our programme offers more than a job, it’s a career package. You can expect:
  • Ongoing bespoke training and personalised development.
  • Continuing support and advice from experts.
  • Competitive salary.
  • First rate pension scheme.
  • Healthcare options.
  • Secondments and attachments.
  • Real job security.
  • A lifetime of rewarding opportunities.
0 %
OF YOU WILL REMAIN IN POLICING AFTER THE PROGRAMME.
Are you eligible to apply?
Upile Mtitmila | Detective Constable

Benefits designed just for you

You’ll also get a whole host of Police Now benefits unique to our  national graduate programmes.

  • A Performance Development Coach who’ll work with you over the two year programme on your personal and professional development.
  • A Police Now national peer network to learn from and share experiences with.
  • Advice from experienced officers through the Police Now alumni network.
  • Our specially designed six-week Police Now Academy to give you a unique and intensive preparation for life in-force.
  • Our specially developed affinity networks, places to meet and share experiences, insights and support with likeminded people.

Competitive salary

Your salary starts when you begin the Police Now Academy.

Police officers receive a basic starting salary between £21,402 to £24,780 depending on their force.

You could also receive location allowances of up to £6,735 per annum. Within six years, the basic salary of a police constable can then rise to £40,000 plus allowances in line with Home Office guidelines.

Leave

You’ll start with 22 days paid annual holiday, rising to 30 days a year with length of service.

This is on top of public holidays and an average of at least two rest days each working week. You can also expect other forms of leave including maternity, paternity and adoption leave and the option of taking a career break of up to five years.

Flexible working

The police service is an emergency service operating 24/7 and 365 days a year.

However, it’s always the intention of the police service to try and take your individual religious and cultural needs into account so you can fit your work around your personal commitments.

Pension

One of the best pension schemes around.

When you start as a new police officer you’ll automatically be enrolled as a member of the Police Pension Scheme 2015, which is considered to be among the best around. This isn’t compulsory and you can opt out if you wish.

Healthcare

Contributory private healthcare scheme.

Some police forces offer the opportunity to join a contributory private healthcare scheme. You’ll also benefit from free eye tests and glasses if you regularly use a computer.

Financial services discounts

There are various partner organisations who work alongside the police to offer a variety of financial services including saving, investment and protection products, as well as discounts and subsidies.

Many major high street shops, retail outlets and other national organisations also offer discounts and special deals to police officers. Most police forces also provide access to a number of subsidised leisure and sporting activities.

Personal support and advice

Police Federation & staff support associations.

You’ll have access to support through the Police Federation and staff support associations, who are there to represent your needs. Each individual force also has their own team for occupational health and welfare and for those with caring responsibilities.

Training and development

Regular training, events and skills sessions.

All our participants get one-to-one mentoring with a Police Now Performance Development Coach (PDC) who will support and coach you throughout your two years on the programme. Your PDC will work with you on a tailored Personal Development Plan (PDP) to encourage your growth throughout the two years. They provide guidance and advice on your project work, identifying your strengths, as well as areas where you can improve.

Beyond the two-year programme

Help and support from Police Now.

After you finish our programme the support doesn’t stop. We have an alumni team who will continue to support your professional and personal development. This includes expert support on promotion applications, skills development sessions and social events.

Secondments and attachments

Opportunities to apply for up to four weeks on an external secondment or internal attachment.

External secondments are a fantastic way to experience professional life outside the police service. You’ll learn new skills, gain valuable experience, work with external partners and contribute to our objective of bringing policing and society closer together. 

Internal attachments to specialist departments give you a chance to experience other areas of policing. By developing your skills with new teams and facing new policing challenges, you can start to plan for life beyond the programme.

Qualifications

Earn a Graduate Diploma on the job

As part of the programme you will complete a bespoke Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice with the University of Huddersfield, which allows you to step back from the day-to-day and learn the theory to drive real change for the communities you will serve. Our graduate diploma is distinctive due to its positioning as an essential and core part of training and developing outstanding leaders in policing. Drawing on the latest elements and developments within the criminological landscape, top academic experts will deliver a nationally-recognised course. Your studies will give you the chance to learn and develop your skills and knowledge in a variety of ways utilising an expansive hub of resources that will challenge you in the most engaging way possible.

Are you eligible to apply?

Before you apply, make sure you meet our eligibility criteria with our online guide.

Some of the key requirements you must meet include:

  • Age - You must be 17 years of age or older at the time of your application.
  • Residency - You’ll need to have resided in the UK continuously for the past three years.
  • 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 2:1 undergraduate degree from a university in the UK, or an equivalent from a non-UK university.
  • Previous policing experience - You can’t apply to Police Now if you are currently or have previously been a serving police officer, or have been attested and started training. Police Now is not a route for officers to transfer between police services or return to the police service. You must not have any prior experience within the policing sector, including working as police staff, as a Special Constable or a police community support worker (PCSO).
  • Prior interest in policing - You must not have previously applied, or currently be applying, to any other route into policing than Police Now.
Check my eligibility

Hear from our participants

Support from Performance Development Coaches has been phenomenal.

Tary Kufa | Trainee Detective Constable

There are a number of people looking after our welfare and making sure we've got the things we need.

Larry Brown | Trainee Detective Constable

I wanted something that would really benefit me and my family.

Chris Fanibe | Trainee Detective Constable


Help and useful links

FAQs

For more information about our national graduate programmes or Police Now.

FAQs
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Devon & Cornwall Police

Police Now | Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
cc-shaun-sawyer

Shaun Sawyer

Chief Constable

National Graduate Leadership Programme

Cohorts: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
No. of police officers enrolled: — — — 8 — —

National Detective Programme

Cohorts: —— —— —— —— 2019 2020
No. of police officers enrolled: — — — — — —

Case studies:

Visit the Devon & Cornwall Police website www.devon-cornwall.police.uk