145 trainee detectives – including 97 women – land in forces across the country to tackle fraud on a national scale, investigate complex cases within Criminal Investigation Departments, or specialise in Counter Terrorism Policing, through Police Now’s National Graduate Programme.

This is the first time Police Now’s counter terrorism specialism has expanded to the North West and West Midlands, following a successful pilot in the Metropolitan Police last year.

It is also the first time its programme has included an economic crime specialism, piloting with the City of London Police – the national lead force for tackling fraud – as Police Now continues to support policing to adapt to modern challenges and emerging threats.

The new officers have just completed 13-weeks of intensive training at Police Now’s national, residential academy – where they sat the challenging National Investigators’ Exam, achieving outstanding results. The exam first-time pass rate at Police Now’s academy this year was 73.1%, including a 100% pass rate amongst the new North West counter terrorism recruits – compared to the policing national average pass rate of 54.8%.

The officers now continue the two-year programme in forces across the country, where they will specialise in their respective areas as they are supported to become highly trained, qualified detectives.

One of the new trainee detectives specialising in counter terrorism in the West Midlands said: “Police Now stood out to me as a unique entry point into the world of policing. It brings together individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines and equips them with tools to help shape police practise, that reflects and understands the multitude of communities it serves. The opportunity to be part of a growing team at a time where Counter Terrorism Policing is evolving so rapidly in response to new and complex threats is incredibly exciting; we’re all fully aware of how unique and significant this opportunity is.”

Police Now, a Times Top 100 Graduate Employer, particularly focuses on recruiting and training those who had not considered a career in policing before and consistently brings more women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds into the service, compared to the policing national average. Of the officers recruited to this cohort of the programme, 67% identify as women and 16% are from a Black, Asian or ethnic minority background – contributing to a more diverse policing workforce, that better represents the communities it serves.