Expression of Interest - Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP)

This is not an application for the role. You will be notified when we are next open for applications. As a Detective Constable, you can change your life and the lives of others. This is a demanding, diverse and incredibly fulfilling career across areas such as cyber-crime, domestic abuse, child protection, homicide, high-level drugs importation and serious organised crime. You will analyse evidence, interview suspects, and take a case to court to uncover the truth and seek justice for victims. If you have compassion, tenacity, the desire to get justice for victims, and emotional resilience, a detective career could be for you.

This is an intensive course that requires commitment to serving the public and completing the programme. We offer a good starting salary, supportive working environment, excellent training experiences, opportunities for progression, and on successful completion of the learning, a graduate diploma in professional policing practice. You will be paid a full-time salary of £28,551 plus £3,000 South East Allowance. Policing offers diverse career opportunities dedicated to catching criminals, protecting communities and delivering an outstanding service.

Responsibilities

• Analyse evidence and interview suspects to build cases
• Take cases to court and seek justice for victims
• Engage with vulnerable communities and protect victims, including those affected by cyber-crime, domestic abuse and child protection issues
• Complete required learning and training through the programme and achieve the associated graduate diploma in professional policing practice

Qualifications & Eligibility

• Be aged 17 years or over on the day you submit your application; you must be 18 or over to start in post
• Have lived in the UK for 3 continuous years immediately prior to application; have leave to enter or remain in the UK for an indefinite period
• Have a current full UK manual driving licence by the time of appointment
• Not be a member (current or previous) of the British National Party (BNP) or any other proscribed terrorist organisations or groups
• Not have tattoos which cause offence
• Not have serious motoring offences
• Not have 6 or more points on your licence
• Have achieved one A Level grade (A*-C) and one A Level grade A*-E or AS level in a different subject, or a Level 3 equivalent; a minimum of 48 UCAS points is required
• Have achieved GCSE English at grade A*-C/9-4 or an equivalent Level 2 qualification

You will need to provide copies of your qualifications with your application. Applicants in their final year of study can apply using predicted grades and must provide proof of qualifications when results are received in August/September. Applicants without a Level 3 qualification may be considered under certain service criteria and could be assessed against a Level 3 framework through a written experience assessment and online tests. Complete the Level 3 form attached and submit with your application.

Skills & Experience

If you have questions about eligibility, completing the application form, or what happens after submission, our recruitment team can answer. Email the team to book a one-to-one conversation.

Hiring Stages & Diversity

Stage 1: Application Form and Eligibility Checks; Stage 2: National Sift (Behavioural Style Questionnaire and Situational Judgement Test); Stage 3: National Assessment Centre (Written briefing and competency-based interview); Stage 4: In Force Competency Based Interview; Stage 5: Pre-employment checks (references, vetting, medical, biometric vetting, substance misuse testing and fitness testing). We will contact you with a confirmed recruitment date. Note that during the first 16 weeks of training you will not be able to take annual leave.

Diversity statement: We are committed to being an anti-racist police service and value diversity. We strive to ensure information and recruitment are open and accessible to all. We are members of Disability Confident and Race Equality Matters; we support the Armed Forces Covenant and HeForShe.

Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application. Some emails may go to spam; please check regularly. You may wish to add the sender to your address book to ensure all communications are received.