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The programme

For every neighbourhood, victim and life you'll change

Be part of a motivated group of graduates on a mission for change – join Police Now’s National Graduate Programme.

Current vacancies

2026 Police Now National Graduate Programme - Neighbourhood

Start date: March 2026

Salary: £29,907

Locations: Avon and Somerset, Dyfed-Powys, Humberside, Merseyside, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, West Midlands

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

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Job description

2026 Police Now National Graduate Programme - Detective

Start date: March 2026

Salary: £29,907

Locations: Devon and Cornwall, Humberside, North Wales, West Midlands
Detectives work on varied investigations, support victims of crime; and bring offenders to justice.
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Job description

Our National Graduate Programme

Click on the map to see which police forces across England and Wales we are partnering with for our 2026 National Graduate Programme.

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Neighbourhood:

  • Avon & Somerset Police
  • Dyfed Powys Police
  • Humberside Police
  • Merseyside Police
  • Northamptonshire Police
  • Suffolk Constabulary
  • West Midlands Police

Detective:

  • Devon & Cornwall Police
  • Humberside Police
  • North Wales Police
  • West Midlands Police

Our National Graduate Programme

Click on the map to see which police forces across England and Wales we are partnering with for our 2026 National Graduate Programme.

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APPLY NOW

North East

Yorkshire and the Humber

North West

Wales

West Midlands

East Midlands

East of England

London

South East

South West

Your journey with Police Now

Two-year programme, salary from day one

Start your career on the programme with a salaried two-year leadership programme. Earn from day one while making a real difference in communities.

Our immersive training academy gives you the skills and knowledge to hit the ground running. Learn from experts and train alongside your cohort.

Programme details may evolve, as we review and refine each cohort to stay innovative and impactful.

You’ll be embedded in your police force, gaining hands-on-experience and working on real cases that impact people’s lives.

You’ll receive dedicated, personal one-on-one coaching and support throughout the programme, helping you develop the skills to thrive in policing and beyond.

Many of our graduates go on to specialise in areas like counter-terrorism, intelligence, and major crime investigations, or step up into leadership role.

What to expect on our programme

Explore each programme structure. Programme details may evolve, as we review and refine each cohort to stay innovative and impactful.

Choose your specialism

Neighbourhood
Detective

Is the programme right for you?

You’ve got the skills to change communities for the better.
Here’s more on what you’ll need to secure a place on our programme.

Are you eligible?

Do you meet the basic requirements? Check our full criteria before you apply.

  • Over 17 years of age
  • UK resident for at least 3 years*
  • Indefinite leave to remain or settled status*
  • 2:2 or above university degree
  • Full UK driving license*
Check full eligibility
What we look for

Do you have a unique set of skills useful in policing? Of course you do!

  • You take ownership
  • You’re emotionally aware
  • You collaborate
  • You support and inspire
  • You analyse critically
Your natural talents

*Dependent on force

Programme insights

What to expect on the Police Now programme.

What should I expect at the academy?​

You'll be expected to attend a 7-13 week residential academy away from home designed to equip you with core policing skills through a blend of classroom learning, scenario-based training, and physical preparation.

When will I join my force? ​

You are officially part of your police force from day one but start at the Police Now Academy before heading into force for on-the-job training and continued development.

Am I a police officer from day one?​

Yes! From the moment you start, you’re a fully warranted police officer with the same powers and responsibilities as any officer in your force. ​

What does a day at the academy look like?

Each day is a mix of classroom sessions, leadership training, practical exercises, and personal development, covering policing law, investigation skills, and decision-making under pressure.

How does Police Now support graduates with families?

The residential academy is a full seven-thirteen week commitment. After the academy, you will benefit from structured shift work to allow you time to balance family commitments.

How does Police Now support diversity?

Police Now is committed to inclusive recruitment and training, ensuring all candidates feel valued, respected, and supported throughout their journey.

What support do I get?

You’ll have access to a dedicated Performance and Development Coach, plus well-being services, mentoring, and career guidance to help you succeed.

Choose your specialism

Join Police Now and lead change. Whether you’re preventing crime in neighbourhoods or solving serious cases as a detective, you’ll make a real impact in communities.

For every life saved

Neighbourhood

Work at the heart of communities, preventing crime, reducing anti-social behaviour, and building public trust.

Neighbourhood specialism
For every crime solved

Detective

Investigate serious and complex crimes, from cybercrime to violent offences, ensuring justice for victims.

Detective specialism

Career progression within policing

There are many ways to progress your career beyond the two year programme. From counter-terrorism to financial crime, response teams to leadership roles, where will your journey take you?

Expertise matters

Policing Specialisms

Train and qualify for specialist roles like firearms, counter-terrorism, financial crime, dog handling, or cybercrime investigations—choosing a path that fits your skills and ambitions.

Graduate to Inspector

From Police Now’s National Graduate Programme to Detective Inspector, Upile Mtitimila has shaped his career through determination, problem-solving, and leadership. His journey shows the real impact of Police Now’s career pathways.

Rise through the ranks

Leadership pathways

From Police Constable to Sergeant, Inspector, and beyond, Police Now support alumni on the path to leadership. Your next step is always within reach.

Expand horizons

More opportunities

Secondments offer experience in national security, intelligence agencies, and global policing initiatives—widening your impact and career opportunities in and beyond policing.

Kickstart your career

Applications open in

Days
Get ready, get set, and join us. Change the story.
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APPLY NOW

Applications for our 2026 National Graduate Programme are now open!

Get ready, get set, and join us. Change the story.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
APPLY NOW
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© Police Now . Police Now is a registered charity (1168427) in England & Wales

Written communication

You’ll need to produce reports that are effectively structured, which follows set policing procedures and guidelines. You’ll present information in a logical manner and will have the ability to communicate in the written form using concise messages that are easy to understand.

Motivational alignment

You’ll show comprehensive awareness that Police Now’s mission is to make where we live safer, transform communities, turn people into allies, service the public and increase their confidence. You want to contribute to Police Now’s mission, go the extra mile and share thought through ideas on how you could make a contribution. 

You’ll be clear and focussed on joining the role and understand why you want this role over others.

You are resilient

Regardless of the challenges you will face, you will remain confident throughout, staying calm and positive to provide the best service possible. You demonstrate determination to tackle situations facing you in role and within your community.  You recognise when you are placed in such a position and draw on your strengths to work through aspects affecting various members of your community.

When things don’t go as planned, you take the time to understand your own emotions; look to find solutions; and subsequently drive your own self-development. Fundamentally, you will demonstrate the ability to bounce back quickly.

You culturally aware

You’ll appreciate and understand that communities have differences within them, and therefore the individuals / groups that make up that community have varying needs.

In light of this, you will tailor your approach accordingly with the individuals / groups that you interact with, demonstrating your impartiality at all times, but ensuring you do your best to gain their trust. 

You will remain adaptable throughout the course of your remit as circumstances unfold in situations.

You innovative and open-minded

You’ll be innovative and open-minded. You must be open to learning and feedback, always striving to improve and develop.

You need to be thorough and accurate in your role, and be able to spot errors or pick up on small details that might be useful. 

You must have a willingness to understand and learn about cultural differences and how to utilise this knowledge within your work.

With the ever-changing nature of crime, you will be at the forefront of creating and implementing innovative ways to tackle it; utilising new technology, methodology and research.

You analyse critically

You’ll notice what others don’t. You will have a methodical approach to solving multiple complex problems, considering all eventualities and risks. You must be curious, objective and willing to delve into data, pull out important points from across different information sources and weigh up options to solve crimes. 

You also need to think laterally as to how to overcome problems.

You take and own decisions independently without needing the input of others.

You support and inspire

You’ll be organised, manage your time highly effectively and deliver in all situations. You make a sustainable impact, leaving things better than you found them. You will be able to prove your ability to deliver results, often outside your comfort zone – you push yourself hard, using your initiative to get positive results. You have to assess risks quickly and effectively, using your judgement and be willing to take and own a decision based on this assessment. 

Things will happen on shift that can mean you suddenly have to respond to a crime, which could then take up the rest of your shift or week.

The workload is demanding and you’ll have to manage many conflicting priorities.

You collaborate

You’ll be a clear communicator, with an exemplary clear and effective style of communication, both verbal and written. This highly attentive attention to detail in communication is critical to several elements of the role including gathering statements, writing crime reports and preparing handover information.

You need to be able to present the outputs of your analysis in a clear, thorough and often persuasive way to a wide range of collaborators and stakeholders.

You’ll have to work with different partners and agencies to solve problems, including social services and local authorities.

You seek feedback, learn from your mistakes and reflect to improve and amend your future practices.

You are emotionally aware

You’ll be an empathic connector. You will be able to develop meaningful relationships with an extensive variety of people, allowing you to communicate and persuade effectively. You must be able to demonstrate a genuine interest in, and respect for other people’s opinions. 

Self-awareness and high levels of emotional control are also required to handle emotionally charged situations. Police officers work in extremely emotive environments and need to be able to understand other’s emotions and their own in order to build meaningful relationships and trust in the community.

You take ownership

You’ll be a credible authority, instilling confidence and trust in others through the quality of your knowledge, skills, presence and professionalism. 

You’ll show substantial resilience, working well under pressure in the face of change, with a determined and positive attitude to overcoming obstacles. You need to be able to bounce back quickly from difficult situations and setbacks. 

These may come from the public and the incidents you deal with but also internally e.g. resistance to change. You need to be persistent and stay focused on the outcomes you need to achieve. Going into the force, you enter as a member of staff who will be relied on to make decisions and provide guidance. However, this needs to be balanced with humility and a willingness to learn and act on feedback.

What does a day at the academy look like?

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Morning: Leadership sessions, policing law, and professional conduct training.

Afternoon: Practical exercises, including stop and search, risk assessments, and interviewing suspects.

Evening: Study time, fitness preparation, and networking with peers.

When will I join my force?

  • You’ll meet your force colleagues early on and begin networking before placement.
  • After the academy, you’ll shadow experienced officers and take on real policing duties with guidance from mentors.
  • Your training and assessments continue throughout the two-year programme, with support from Police Now coaches and force supervisors.

What should I expect at the academy?​

  • Academy is residential, so you’ll live on-site for seven weeks (Neighbourhood Programme) or twelve weeks (Detective Programme).
  • A mix of classroom-based theory and practical, hands-on training with real-life policing scenarios.
  • Led by experienced officers and subject matter experts, preparing you to be operationally ready from day one.

Diversity and Women's Leadership in the Police

Career progression at Police Now

Unique aspects of the role

A Day in the Life - Detective Rotation

Arrival and Briefing

I arrived at the station and attended a briefing, where my sergeant informed me of an attempted murder investigation and asked whether I would like to get involved. I agreed and began reviewing the investigation documents beforehand to familiarise myself.

Supporting the Investigation

The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) tasked us to go to the incident location and identify any lines of enquiry that will support the investigation, including locating the suspect’s phone and potential drugs at the scene.

Witness accounts

When I arrived, the officer sitting the scene explained that the suspect’s next-door neighbour had witnessed the incident but had just left for a weekend trip. I made enquires to obtain his number and rang him directly, explaining the importance of obtaining a witness statement from him urgently.

Lunch

CCTV Trawl

I took photographs of all CCTV cameras in the estate, identifying which would be most relevant to capturing the incident location. Some cameras were communal and therefore managed by the estate, but I left a calling card to some residents whose independent cameras also overlooked the incident location, asking them to contact us as a matter of urgency.

Locating potential evidence

I discovered that one of the three drain grids at the incident site had bubbles rising, which could be indicative of something being dropped in the water such as the suspect’s phone. I passed this intel to the SIO.

Witness account

The earlier next-door-neighbour returned and provided an in-depth witness account of the incident. I took notes and paid attention to the witness’ body language.

Wrap up

After a successful day of obtaining valuable evidence and following through additional lines of enquiries, I passed all information on the case to the SIO.

 

 

A Day in the Life - Training Academy

Morning routine

After waking up and having breakfast with other participants, I take the time to review some of my notes from previous sessions to refresh my knowledge before the day’s training begins.

Managing public protection incidents session

The day begins with a session focused on managing public protection incidents. These incidents involve cases where individuals are at risk of harm, and we learned how to respond to high-risk incidents, assess immediate risk and safeguard victims.

Crime scene management activity

For the rest of the morning, I took part in a practical crime scene exercise with other participants on the programme. We worked through multiple crime scene scenarios and had to identify, label and collect evidence to learn how to properly document evidence while preserving forensic integrity.

Lunch

Interviewing suspects session

After lunch, we had a session covering the key techniques for interviewing suspects, including how to structure interviews and build rapport to ensure we gain key skills on conducting ethical interviews in the correct manner.

Introduction to problem solving session

In this session, I learned how crucial problem-solving skills are for detectives to help develop effective investigative strategies.

National investigators’ exam revision

My day wrapped up with revision for the National Investigators’ Exam (NIE), by spending time consolidating NIE content that was covered in previous lessons.

Wellbeing and fitness

I decided to use the on-site gym in the evening with a few participants to ensure I am maintaining my physical fitness, while also bonding with others on the programme outside of training sessions.

 

 

A Day in the Life - Immersion Period

Arriving at the station

When I arrived at the station in the afternoon, I quickly got into my uniform and prepared for my night shift. Being ready for any response or incident is essential.

Team Briefing

I attended the daily briefing with my team where we received updates on ongoing cases and any incidents we may need to respond to.

Patrolling the community

To support achieving Independent Patrol Status (IPS), me and my colleague began patrolling our community, building community engagement and getting ready to respond to any incidents.

Meal break

First responder to an incident

We were dispatched to a domestic assault incident. I arrived to find a young victim with visible injuries. The suspect had already left the scene.

De-escalating the situation and victim support

The victim was incredibly distressed, so I accompanied them in the ambulance to the hospital where I collected a first account of the victim to be used for the case.

Arrest of Offender

While I was with the victim, my colleagues located and arrested the suspect. I informed the victim of the arrest, which helped calm them, but they remained emotionally distressed.

Referring to support services

I made sure the victim was referred to the necessary support services, including domestic abuse teams and mental health resources. Then, I safely transported them to their family member’s house.

Handover and paperwork

Before finishing the shift, I completed the necessary paperwork and handed over the case to a specialist domestic abuse investigation unit.

 

 

A Day in the Life - Neighbourhood Policing

Arriving at the Station

After arriving at the station, I started my day by reviewing my objectives and the progress made in previous operations, specifically on tackling ongoing anti-social behaviour (ASB) in my assigned community’s town centre.

Community Town Centre’s Progress

I received the news that my assigned community’s town centre was no longer on the ASB hot spot list for the first time ever. This was a major milestone, and it was rewarding to know that the hard work from my night patrols had contributed to this achievement.

Monthly Town Centre Meeting

I attended the monthly town centre meeting as the Police Single Point of Contact (SPOC). There, I collaborated with multiple agencies and discussed community concerns to see where I could make a positive impact in my community.

Lunch

Patrolling in my community

In the afternoon, I began patrolling my community in uniform. This is a brilliant opportunity for me to make connections and continue to engage with other community members to hear about any potential local issues.

Conflict Resolution

During my patrol, I encountered an ongoing neighbour dispute that had been unresolved for weeks. I took the time to talk to both sides and really understand what was going on. By listening and helping them find common ground, I was able to resolve the issue.

Handover and Paperwork

Before finishing my shift, I completed any outstanding paperwork and logged the incidents I dealt with today during my patrol before ensuring all my equipment is properly secured for my next shift.

 

 

A Day in the Life - Neighbourhood Policing

Arriving at the Station

I started the day at the station by putting on my uniform and checked if there were any updates before I headed out into the community.

School Engagement

Once a week, I work in a complex secondary school, building relationships with young people who are at risk of criminal exploitation. By being a visible and approachable presence, I gain their trust and provide support where needed.

Lunch

Identifying Root Causes

A key focus of my current work is understanding the root cause of why young people carry knives. I spent time speaking with students during my visit at the secondary school about their experiences and concerns, particularly around knife crime.

Community Outreach

I spent the afternoon connecting with local youth workers and community organisations to discuss ongoing concerns around knife crime. By sharing insights from my school engagement on a regular basis, we explored ways to support at-risk young people and intervene before they are involved in violence or exploitation.

Review

Back at the station, I reviewed my notes and key conversations of the day and updated any relevant reports; ensuring necessary follow-ups could be made to support vulnerable young people.

Meeting with my PDC

To end the day, I met online with my Performance and Development Coach (PDC) from Police Now to reflect on any recent incidents and discuss any challenges I faced. This discussion provided valuable support and guidance for me.

 

 

A Day in the Life - Academy

Whole Cohort Briefing

The day began with a briefing to outline the schedule and key objectives of the day.

Public Order Session

This session covered managing large-scale incidents such as protests. I learned crowd control tactics, de-escalation strategies, and the legal powers available to maintain public safety while protecting individual rights.

Detention and Custody Session

We then focused on the process of taking a suspect into custody. We learned about detainee rights, the legal requirements for detention, and how to ensure the welfare of those in custody.

Lunch

Arrest Practice

In this hands-on session, I practiced arrest procedures in controlled scenarios. It was a great opportunity to apply what I had learned, ensuring arrests were carried out lawfully and safely.

Arrest Statement Practice

After the practical exercises, we worked on writing arrest statements based on the scenarios to refine our skills of accurately recording facts and details under pressure.

Syndicate Time

Led by Syndicate Leads – seconded Sergeants and Inspectors from partner forces – this session was a chance to reflect on the day’s learning, where Syndicates shared real policing experiences related to training.



What support do i get?

  • One-to-one mentorship and coaching throughout the two-year programme.
  • Mental health and well-being support to help manage the challenges of policing.
  • Regular check-ins to track progress and explore career progression opportunities.

How does Police Now support diversity?

  • Police Now recruits from diverse backgrounds, with targeted support for underrepresented communities in policing.
  • Specialist mentoring and affinity networks help create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
  • Diversity is embedded into all aspects of training, recruitment, and leadership development.

How does Police Now support graduates with families?

  • Accommodation and travel support is provided, helping ease the transition for those with family responsibilities.
  • Well-being services and mentoring help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
  • Graduates with families can access extra resources and flexible support structures.

Do I get a fully funded degree/qualification?

  • You will complete a Level 6 or Level 7 policing qualification, depending on your programme.
  • This is fully funded, meaning you earn a salary while gaining an accredited qualification.
  • The learning is practical and directly applied to real-world policing scenarios.

Am I a police officer from day one?

  • You will take your police oath before starting the academy, officially making you a police constable.
  • All training and duties are real and operational, meaning you are trusted with the full responsibilities of policing from the beginning.
  • You will be supported at all times by tutors, supervisors, and fellow officers.

Dorset Police

Police Now | Dorset Police
Scott Chilton - Dorset Police Chief Constable

Scott Chilton

Chief Constable

National Graduate Leadership Programme

National Detective Programme

Visit the Dorset Police website www.dorset.police.uk