National Graduate Leadership Programme

life as a neighbourhood police officer

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The role of a neighbourhood police officer

Build a relationship with your community

As a neighbourhood police officer it’s your job to build a relationship with your community.  It’s up to you to find and manage local issues, and it doesn’t stop there.

You will find what’s causing the problems and then decide on a strategy that enables everyone to find solutions: local residents, agencies, perpetrators and victims of crime. 

If you know how to prioritise, manage, investigate and go the extra mile, a neighbourhood policing role is for you. 

Neighbourhood policing is challenging, it’s not flashing lights: it’s conflict resolution and case management and joined up thinking too.

Transform Communities

Working with communities challenged by crime

You manage people, their issues, their needs and the crimes they are facing. Neighbourhood police officers know themselves, know their history and know that everyone has their own story. Police Now want you to be yourself. We work with you to develop your skill set so you can communicate with diverse and vulnerable communities and individuals.

As a neighbourhood police officer you are proactive. You see all the angles, you want to make things better for the most vulnerable in society, and you understand that crime is a product of complex issues, often stretching through generations and controlling whole areas.

As a neighbourhood police officer you’ll work within diverse communities, devise long term strategic solutions and work collaboratively with multi-agency teams. You’ll get to the root of the problem and the heart of the issue. 

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We have recruited over 1,000 police officers to date, across England and Wales

You’ll change the understanding of local policing.

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Perhaps when you think of a police officer, you think of someone who's white, who's male, who's strong. Perhaps you think you're not strong enough? But you are.

Hear from our neighbourhood police officers

Never thought of yourself as a police officer? Want to know if you’d fit into our programme? Want to understand the day-to-day role?  Curious about the kind of people who decide to become neighbourhood police officers?

Police Now supports graduates from diverse backgrounds to be a success on the programme. Listen to some of our participants as they share their stories.

A dynamic multi-skilled role

Latia Suen | Neighbourhood police officer

Problem solving

Emma Adams | Neighbourhood police officer

Tackling complex community issues

Sami Halepota | Neighbourhood police officer

Bringing people together

James Pullen | Neighbourhood police officer

Getting to know the community

Anokhi Chouhan | Neighbourhood police officer

Anokhi Chouhan | Neighbourhood police officer
Anokhi Chouhan | Neighbourhood police officer

Could this be you?

Do you have what it takes to transform communities?

Working as a neighbourhood police officer is a demanding but rewarding job. 

If you’re a university finalist or graduate with an appetite to make a real difference, explore what’s needed to be successful in this role.

ARE YOU SUITED FOR THE ROLE?

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 over 17 years old 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 applying or have previously applied to join a police force through any other route than Police Now – this could be as a police constable, member of police staff, special constable, or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). You also cannot apply if you are currently, or have previously been, a police officer, member of police staff, special constable, or Police Community Support Office (PCSO).
Check my eligibility

Beyond the programme

Graduation from a Police Now programme as a neighbourhood police officer is the start of a great career. What sets you apart is your critical thinking, your ability to strategise, to connect with communities, and get under the skin of local issues and make a real impact.

You are motivated and ready to transform society from the inside. Working with people like you to improve life for everyone.

You are the change.

JOIN US


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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