Neighbourhood
For every home, street corner, park bench.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in the place they live. Become a neighbourhood police officer.
Kickstart your career
Applications open in
Applications for our 2026 National Graduate Programme are now open!
About Neighbourhood Policing

Neighbourhood police officers are more than uniforms: they’re problem solvers, change-makers, and protectors at the heart of the community.
From tackling knife crime and violence against women and girls to preventing anti-social behaviour, this role is about finding solutions, building trust, and creating safer streets for everyone.
In this role, you'll:
- Protect those who need it most: Be a visible and reassuring presence in communities, preventing crime before it happens.
- Be there when no one else can help: Respond to incidents, de-escalate tensions, and support the vulnerable.
- Build bridges. Solve problems. Strengthen communities. Work with local organisations, schools, and charities to tackle the root causes of crime.
- Create community through service: Empower residents to take pride in their neighbourhoods, making them safer for everyone.


- Pay attention to details: Whether it’s gathering intelligence or following up on concerns, your work will shape long-term solutions.
- Grow relationships across teams and services: Collaborate with healthcare professionals, social services, and local authorities to safeguard the public.
- Form powerful partnerships. Find real solutions: Work with agencies, community groups, and local services to tackle anti-social behaviour and gang activity through collaboration and shared expertise.
- Lead by example: Inspire trust and confidence, ensuring that policing is fair, just, and representative of the community.
Neighbourhood officers recruited by Police Now.
had not considered neighbourhood policing before discovering Police Now.
average number of languages spoken in our cohorts.
For every neighbourhood
Every neighbourhood deserves to feel safe.
For every street corner, every family, every moment that matters – neighbourhood policing is about leading change where it’s needed most. It’s a career that builds trust, prevents harm, and strengthens communities from within. Be the difference.
Everyone deserves to feel safe
in the place they live.
You Already Have the Skills
to Make an Impact
Your experiences, whether from university, part-time jobs, volunteering, or team activities, have already shaped skills that could make you a great neighbourhood police officer. Bring them to a role where you’ll prevent crime, support communities, and build trust every day.
Resilience
Balancing coursework deadlines, part-time work, or competitive sports has built your ability to stay calm under pressure, a vital skill for navigating unpredictable policing situations.
Communication
From presenting in seminars to working in customer service, you’ve developed the ability to engage with people from all walks of life, build trust, and de-escalate conflict, all essential in frontline policing.
Problem-solving
Whether it’s analysing data for a research project, finding solutions in group work, or organising events, you’ve sharpened your critical thinking and decision-making skills, crucial for tackling anti-social behaviour and identifying crime patterns.
Empathy
Volunteering, mentoring, or supporting friends through challenges has strengthened your ability to understand diverse perspectives and offer meaningful support, key to working with vulnerable people in the community.
Analytical thinking
If you’ve worked with data, conducted research, or solved complex academic problems, you already have the ability to map crime hotspots, assess trends, and make evidence-based decisions for proactive policing.
Leadership
From captaining a sports team to leading a university society, you’ve taken responsibility and influenced outcomes, just as you will when making split-second decisions that shape public safety.
Teamwork
Group projects, internships, and extracurricular activities have taught you how to collaborate effectively, a crucial skill for working with colleagues, social services, and local organisations in policing.
Initiative
Taking on new challenges, starting your own projects, or finding solutions to everyday problems shows your ability to act decisively, take ownership, and think innovatively, exactly what’s needed as a neighbourhood police officer.
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.
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*
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
*Dependent on force
A day in the life
No two days are the same on the neighbourhood specialism of Police Now’s National Graduate Programme. Explore how participants tackle challenges, lead change, and make an impact daily.
A day in the life of a neighbourhood police participant during the training academy.
Police Now graduate
A day in the life of a neighbourhood police officer tackling youth knife crime in schools and making a lasting impact in communities
Police Now graduate
A day in the life of a neighbourhood police officer reducing crime and building community trust in their local town.
Police Now graduate
Career progression
From officer to senior rank
I was further promoted from inspector to chief inspector rank and incredibly I came in the top percentage of those sitting the promotion board within the Met.
Secondments and promotions
In 8 years, I have been on secondment to gain experience in other industries and been promoted three times to Detective Inspector
Piloting crime reduction
I started out as a neighbourhood police officer and when I reflect back on the last seven years of my career, all I can say is that the variety in policing is huge.
Making an impact in communities
“Part of Police Now’s message is having an impact from day one, and I think that’s really true”
“This project will help us better address the issues affecting the public together”
“I have been able to really embed myself in the community to problem-solve these long-term issues”
What to expect on our programme
Programme details may evolve, as we review and refine each cohort to stay innovative and impactful.
Offer accepted
1
Secure your place on the programme, begin onboarding, and complete pre-employment checks before starting your journey.
Pre-Academy preparation
2
Get ready for the Police Now Academy with virtual sessions, e-learning, and networking events to build confidence before training officially begins.
Police Now Academy
3
A seven-week immersive training experience that equips you with the core policing skills to step into a neighbourhood officer role from day one.
Force immersion
4
Work alongside experienced officers in your force, gaining first-hand experience and applying your academy training in real-world policing situations.
In-Force training
5
Continue learning on the job with structured training, mentorship, and support from your force and Police Now’s Performance and Development Coaches.
Community impact
6
Lead problem-solving initiatives in your community, tackling anti-social behaviour, reducing crime, and making a meaningful difference.
Leadership development
7
Develop leadership, communication, and decision-making skills with ongoing training, coaching, and networking opportunities across the policing sector.
Graduation & progression
8
Celebrate your achievements, earn your qualification, and explore career progression opportunities – from specialist units to leadership roles.