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Joining the police

AuthorJemma Smith, senior editor
Posted on
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Considering a career in policing? There are lots of ways to join the police, for example via a degree, apprenticeship or graduate scheme

What do police officers do?

Police officers work in partnership with the communities they serve to maintain law and order, protect members of the public and their property, and detect, prevent and investigate crimes. It's a challenging career that demands a high level of personal integrity and responsibility.

What jobs are available within the police?

Frontline roles follow a ranking structure:

  • police constable
  • police sergeant
  • police inspector
  • chief inspector
  • police superintendent
  • chief superintendent
  • assistant chief constable
  • deputy chief constable
  • chief constable.

You can also work as a detective, which is a descriptive title, not a rank. Detectives work alongside their uniformed counterparts as equals.

There are also a number of staff roles available, for those who want to work within a police force but not on frontline duties. We cover these roles in more detail below.

How many police forces are there in the UK?

The UK has 45 geographical police forces comprising 43 in England and Wales - for example, Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Suffolk Constabulary, Gwent Police - plus Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

In addition, there are four special police forces:

What are the benefits of joining the police?

Working as a police officer is a rewarding career in more ways than one. You'll:

  • be part of an essential emergency service, making the communities you serve safer by reducing crime
  • support and help to deliver justice to victims of crime
  • get to see the direct impact of your work on people and communities
  • enjoy a variety of work as each shift brings new cases to investigate, new emergency calls and challenges
  • benefit from job security and structured training and progression opportunities.

How much will I be paid as a police officer?

Upon joining the police you can expect a basic starting salary of £31,164 but this depends on location. Pay rises incrementally and a constable can usually reach the top of their pay scale (£50,256) within seven years.

Other benefits include:

  • a pension, with the option to retire at 60
  • 22 days annual leave, rising to 30 days throughout your service
  • discounted private healthcare
  • access to a range of discounts offered by retailers and restaurants.

How do I become a police officer in the UK?

You don't need a degree to become a police officer. UK police forces welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, non-graduate and graduate alike.

There are five entry routes to joining the police:

  • Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) - In England and Wales you can choose to undertake a three-year Level 6 degree apprenticeship. As with other apprenticeships, you'll earn while you learn and upon successful completion of the programme, you'll have finished your probation as a police constable and will have achieved the BSc Professional Policing Practice.
  • Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) - Available across all forces, the PCEP is a two-year training programme that results, upon successful completion, in you becoming a PC. You'll need two A-levels or equivalent Level 3 passes to be accepted on the programme.
  • Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) - For those who've studied an undergraduate degree in any subject, you can follow this work-based programme, which is supported by off-the-job learning. It typically takes two years to complete and leads to a Level 6 Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.
  • Detective DHEP - Similar to the above, but more intense with a focus on investigative work. In addition to the graduate diploma, you'll also need to complete the National Investigators Examination and meet PIP2 assessment criteria to become a Professionalising Investigation Programme Level 2 (PIP2) accredited detective.
  • Professional Policing Degree Holder - If you haven't already been to university, you can embark on a three-year BSc Professional Policing programme before applying to a force and following a shorter period of on-the-job training. By pursuing this route, you'll need to be prepared to fund the degree yourself.

Should I do a Masters in policing?

Masters-level courses are available for those who wish to pursue academic study in fields such as leadership, strategy and transnational policing. This isn't necessary to get a job in a police force but could prove useful in terms of your career development working in the areas of policing or security.

For instance, you could study the:

Search for postgraduate courses in policing.

Can I study for a police apprenticeship?

As mentioned above you can join the police by completing an apprenticeship, the PCDA. Many UK forces accept entrants via this route, which is a mix of academic and on-the-job learning.

You'll be employed as a police officer from day one and will spend the majority of your time on the frontline, being mentored by experienced police officers. As part of your training you'll participate in a number of deployments in:

  • Response - dealing with emergency calls and going to the scene of incidents
  • Neighbourhood policing - working with a neighbourhood policing team (NPT) to police a particular area or community
  • Investigations - learning how to complete investigations using all the tools and processes available to you, both in the office and out in the community.

You'll need two A-levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications to be accepted onto the apprenticeship.

What about Police Now entry routes?

Police Now is an independent charity with a mission to transform communities by recruiting, developing and inspiring diverse leaders in policing.

The organisation works in partnership with police forces to attract, recruit and train outstanding graduates with leadership potential to be inspirational detectives and police officers, through their National Graduate Programme.

Available programme specialisms include:

  • National Graduate Programme (Neighbourhood specialism) - trains and develops graduates to become leaders in neighbourhood policing. Participants are placed in some of the most challenging communities in England and Wales, getting to know the issues up close and developing innovative ideas and techniques to tackle the challenges residents are facing.
  • National Graduate Programme (Detective specialism) - designed to equip graduates with the core policing skills required in modern investigative work. Throughout the programme, participants play an important part in solving crimes while developing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • National Graduate Programme (Detective counter terrorism specialism) - trains graduates to become police detectives working in counter terrorism. On the programme you’ll gather intelligence, support de-radicalisation initiatives, engage with local communities and coordinate with national intelligence services.

All programmes involve the completion of a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

Am I eligible for the Police Now programme?

To be eligible for Police Now's national graduate programmes, you must:

  • be over 17 years old at the time of your application
  • have continuously lived in the UK for the last three years
  • have indefinite leave to remain and work in the UK
  • have at least two Level 3 (typically A-level) qualifications as well as a minimum 2:2 degree or equivalent in any subject. If you hold a degree in professional policing practice you are not eligible for the programmes.
  • be new to policing
  • meet other financial, political, business, health and fitness requirements.

Depending on the force you may also need a full UK manual driving license.

What does the Police Now recruitment processes involve?

  • Application - Set up your online account, complete an initial eligibility check, select your preferred specialism and police force, share personal details and then submit your application form. Police Now estimates that the form takes no longer than 30 minutes to complete.
  • Immersive assessment - If your application is successful you’ll complete an online, task-based assessment based on real policing scenarios.
  • Assessment centre - If you're successful in the online assessment, you'll then be invited to book a date and time slot at Police Now's assessment centre, which involves group exercises, interviews and role plays.
  • Conditional offer - If you get through the assessment centre stage, you'll be offered a conditional place on the Police Now programme.
  • Onboarding - this includes vetting and medical checks and preparation for the Academy with the support of a recruitment officer.
  • Induction/Academy - Join the academy to prepare for your role.

Find out more about the application process and Police Now.

Which UK police forces are hiring now?

The Joining the police website gives you information on how many and which police forces are currently recruiting. You can search for recruiting forces via your postcode or by selecting your preferred entry programme.

See Joining the police - Which forces are recruiting?

What are the entry requirements for joining the police?

You'll first need to check that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. These vary between police forces, but in general you should:

  • be aged 17 or over to apply (you won't be appointed until you're 18). There is no upper age limit
  • be a British citizen, a European Union (EU) citizen with settled status, or a foreign national with indefinite leave to remain in the UK without restrictions
  • have lived in the UK for the last three years (although there are exemptions, such as if you've served abroad with the British armed forces)
  • possess a qualification equivalent to A-level, have been a special constable who has been signed off for independent patrol service in the last two years or have served as a police community support officer (PCSO) for 18 months.

A valid driving licence is often essential, and you'll also have to pass medical, eyesight and fitness tests too (such as the bleep test).

Ideally you won't have a criminal record, but minor offences won't automatically exclude you from entry. You'll need to be honest in your application and be aware that certain convictions will bar you from joining the police.

Other things that could prevent you from applying include:

  • unmanaged debts or previous bankruptcy will likely lead to a rejection
  • members of certain extreme political groups are not allowed to apply
  • you can't apply if you've made an unsuccessful application to a police force in the last six months.

Visit the recruitment website of the police force you're interested in joining to confirm their full requirements and determine whether you're eligible.

How do I apply for police jobs?

The application process involves several stages:

  • completing a police application form
  • the sifting process, which differs depending on force but usually consists of situational judgements and behavioural questionnaires.
  • taking an online assessment
  • undergoing medical and fitness tests
  • passing pre-employment/security checks
  • receiving a decision.

The police force you're applying to will be able to provide more details about their recruitment process.

For more information, visit Joining the Police - Get ready to apply.

How do I become a police community support officer (PCSO)?

Although they don't have the same powers as a police officer, PCSOs play a key role on the frontline of neighbourhood policing. According to the College of Policing, the job involves:

  • dealing with minor offences
  • offering early intervention
  • providing support to police officers
  • conducting house-to-house enquiries
  • guarding crime scenes
  • providing crime prevention advice.

Starting salaries vary by force but give you an idea:

This is a uniformed role, and you'll work shifts including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Apply for PCSO positions directly through the police force that you want to join. You don't generally require any formal qualifications, but you'll need to meet the basic eligibility requirements set by individual police forces. Check their websites for details.

The application process typically involves an application form, online tests, an interview and assessment centre. You'll also have to demonstrate your fitness and pass a medical test.

Successful applicants will then undergo a training programme lasting between three weeks and three months.

You may later decide to apply to become a police officer, or continue as PCSO.

Can I join the force as a special constable?

Often known simply as 'specials', special constables are volunteer police officers with the same powers as regular police officers. They are typically on duty for around four hours a week, taking part in frontline police work.

Apply through your local police force, which will also be able to provide detailed eligibility criteria. In general, you must be:

  • of good character
  • at least 18 years old
  • in good health.

You'll usually have to complete an application form, assessment centre (including written tests and an interview), fitness test, background enquiries and a medical assessment. If you're successful, you'll undergo a period of training.

While unpaid, working as a special constable is an opportunity to find out whether you enjoy police work. You can later decide to apply to become a police officer.

Explore the role further at College of Policing - Special constable.

What about police staff jobs?

If you want to contribute to the work of the police, but not on the frontline, there are many support roles available. For example, police forces require:

  • call handlers in the control room
  • personnel to deal with front desk enquiries
  • librarians
  • intelligence analysts
  • crime scene investigators
  • forensic scientists
  • press officers and communications professionals
  • staff to provide IT, administration and HR support.

Search the vacancies section of your local police force's website to see what's available.

For those aged between 13 and 18, you can also volunteer as a police cadet to get a taste of what it's like to be a police officer. Discover how to become a Volunteer Police Cadet (VPC).

Find out more

Written by Jemma Smith, senior editor

Prospects · April 2026