Police Officer

Policing is a challenging but rewarding career like no other. With your will and determination, we will help you reach your full potential as a Metropolitan Police officer and be the best you can be for yourself, your community, and London.

The Met is working hard to drive more trust, reduce crime, and maintain high standards for London and its communities. The Met is made up of officers and staff from all backgrounds but we are committed to becoming more representative of the communities we serve. To do this the Met recognises the need to change. We’re looking for people who share our values of integrity, courage, accountability, respect and empathy to join the dedicated, honest, committed, hard‑working officers and staff already in our team.

As a police constable in London’s Metropolitan Police, you’ll join over 30,000 colleagues working across 32 boroughs, all dedicated to serving over nine million residents in one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. You’ll learn new things every day whether you’re out on patrol in the local community, giving evidence in court, investigating burglaries or supporting victims of crime. Every day brings a fresh challenge, the chance to learn something new and help others.

A three‑year programme where you can learn as you earn policing London’s streets, gaining a (BSc) Hons degree in professional policing practice on completion. The Met covers all qualification fees so there’s no cost to you, it’s all fully funded. You’ll start by working with one of our partner universities learning the basics of the job, before joining a team of experienced officers teaching you invaluable skills that you’ll put into practice and build upon before returning to uni for an end‑of‑programme assessment.

Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) A two‑year programme which provides new recruits with a blend of classroom‑based and operational learning. Your initial training will take place at a Met training centre before you join one of our policing teams to gain practical, on‑the‑job experience. You will be regularly assessed on your knowledge, skills, and behaviours but, unlike our other entry route, you will not be required to complete an academic qualification as part of your training or attend university.

Career Opportunities There are countless career opportunities available at the Met due to its size and diverse population that you wouldn’t find in any other UK city. Upon successful completion of your training period, you’ll be able to decide how you want to shape your future career path. Whether that be undertaking a new role, joining a specialist team, training to become a detective, or promotion through the ranks, there will always be a role for you at the Met. You could choose to work in diplomatic protection, work with horses in the Mounted Branch, or even work in cyber‑crime.

Benefits A competitive starting salary of c. £40,776 rising up to c. £56,000 as a PC, inclusive of allowances. Discounted rail travel up to 70 miles after initial training and free London travel. Gain a fully‑funded degree while earning and developing skills for life under our apprenticeship route. Generous police pension scheme. Generous annual leave and a range of other leave options, including career breaks, special leave, parental and adoption leave. A comprehensive Health and Wellbeing service to help you stay healthy and well. Access to a large number of subsidised leisure and sporting activities. Becoming part of the Met family, and the policing family nationally – a unique and supportive network where you’ll meet friends for life while all working together to make London and the UK safer for everyone. Flexible working options. Policing is a 24/7 service, and you will therefore be expected to work shift patterns including weekends and nights. However, we do aim to offer flexible working opportunities where operationally viable and depending on the role.

A wide range of staff support associations which support the different interests of the staff and officers they represent, including but not limited to the Association of Muslim Policing, the Metropolitan Police LGBT Network, the Metropolitan Police Black Police Association and the Network of Women.

How to Join Us There are two routes of entry: Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).