Essex Police Investigate First - Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Our detectives #FitTheBill, could you? Could you compassionately support someone who has just been seriously assaulted, had a family member murdered, been robbed at knifepoint or sexually abused? Do you have the mind-set to investigate serious or complex crimes, build a case to put before a judge and lock up the county's most serious or violent offenders?

Join us as a Police Constable and train to become a detective. You will be responsible for upholding the law, responding to live and serious incidents, seeking out and securing evidence needed to build a case for the prosecution, protecting people from harm and delivering justice to victims using the full power of the law.

Like our detectives, you will need to be driven by your motivation to help keep people safe, act with integrity and honesty, and be guided by a high moral compass. You will also need to be prepared for long hours and challenging investigations.

Join Essex Police as a police officer and you'll receive a starting salary of £32,907 (including £3,000 South East allowance), with annual incremental salary increases up to £51,231 within seven years, along with other benefits.

To join the Investigate First Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), you must meet the eligibility criteria for becoming a police officer and pass the online assessment. You must also:

• have a GCSE in Maths and English Grade C or level 4 or above, and
• achieve or be working towards two level 3 qualifications with a minimum grade C or above (e.g., two A-levels or equivalent to UCAS points of 64+).

Use the register of regulated qualifications website to check if your qualification is recognized as 'level 3'. Candidates applying pending completion of these qualifications must complete them by the end of the current academic year.

If you do not hold these qualifications, you can still apply if you possess one of the following and/or have the required experience. You will then undergo additional assessments as part of our recruitment process.

Entry requirements PCDA:

• 32-63 UCAS points from 2 A-Levels or equivalent
• GCSE Grade C or level 4 in Maths and English, and under 32 UCAS points or no evidence of a level 3 qualification
• You are an Essex police staff member, a PCSO, or a special constable who has passed probation
• You have at least 4 years’ service with the armed forces and an exemplary discharge reference
• No evidence of Maths and English at GCSE and under 32 UCAS points, or no level 3 qualification, and you have at least four years’ service with the armed forces

For more details on the Investigate First PCDA route and entry requirements, please read our detailed guide here.

All posts require vetting and security clearance. During recruitment, you will complete vetting forms.

Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or employment status. Let us know if you need support during the application process or for further info, email recruitment.business.services@ecis.police.uk with 'Application Support and Adjustments' in the subject. You can also call 01245 452833, option 2. We will make reasonable adjustments to the process, working arrangements, and environment as needed.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a UK resident and have lived here continuously for the last three years, with no restrictions on indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK, you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This does not apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

Essex Police is an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.