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Police Officer

If you want a rewarding career where you can protect the community and help to reduce crime this is the role for you.

From your first day, you will take up your duties and receive training to help you become a fully-fledged Police Officer. As a trusted member of the community, you will work to provide reassurance and assistance to communities across Staffordshire as part of the wider policing team.

Although demanding, this role can be very satisfying and lead to many opportunities for career development.

Working as a Police officer you can expect to

  • Get experience working in different specialities including Response, Investigations and a Neighbourhood Policing Team during your probationary period.
  • Deal with varied situations on a daily basis, every day will be different. You will be responsible for patrolling crime hot spots, arresting criminals, investigating crime and protecting vulnerable members of the community from harm.
  • Set out a career path that could see you specialise as a firearms officers, dog handler, traffic cop, detective or the trusted, familiar face within your community as a neighbourhood officer.
  • Work flexible shifts including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

How to Become a Police Officer

There are a few different entry routes into policing as all new police officers will be required to have a degree-level qualification. Below is a list of the different ways you can become a police officer.

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

This route into policing is for someone who doesn’t have a degree, but can gain one at the same time as working in operational policing.

Entry criteria:
GCSE in Maths and English grade A – C/4 or above and Level 3 qualifications that equate to 64 UCAS points or more. Level 3 qualifications include A Levels, BTECs and National Diplomas.

Programme length:
The PCDA course is for three years and includes a combination of academic learning at Staffordshire University and in force training within different operational policing departments across Staffordshire Police. This course will be funded by Staffordshire Police.

Qualification achieved:
At the end of the three year course, you will have achieved a BSc (Hons) in Professional Policing and will be able to continue working in Staffordshire Police as a police officer.

Additional information:
For more information about the PCDA route, visit: BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice (Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship) - Staffordshire University

Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP)

This route into policing is for someone who already holds an undergraduate degree or higher education qualification.

Entry criteria:
A Bachelor’s degree in any subject of any class from any university. For example, a 2:2 BSc (Hons) in Psychology from Sheffield Hallam University or 2:1 BA (Hons) in History from University of Leicester.

Programme length:
This is a two year course and includes a combination of academic learning at Staffordshire University and in force training within different operational policing departments across Staffordshire Police. This course will be funded by Staffordshire Police.

Qualification achieved:
At the end of the two year course, you will have achieved a level 6 Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice from Staffordshire University and will be able to continue working in Staffordshire Police as a police officer.

Additional information:
For more information about the DHEP route, visit: Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing - Staffordshire University - Staffordshire University

Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programme (DCDHEP)

This route into policing is for someone wants to be a detective and already holds an undergraduate degree or higher education qualification.

Entry criteria:
A Bachelor’s degree in any subject of any class from any university. For example, a 2:2 BSc (Hons) in Psychology from Sheffield Hallam University or 2:1 BA (Hons) in History from University of Leicester.

Programme length:
This is a two year course and includes a combination of academic learning at Staffordshire University, including the PIP1 and PIP2 qualification required to become a detective, and in force training within different operational policing departments across Staffordshire Police. This course will be funded by Staffordshire Police.

Qualification achieved:
At the end of the two year course, you will have achieved a level 6 Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice from Staffordshire University and will be able to continue working in Staffordshire Police as a detective constable.

Additional information:
For more information about the DCDHEP route, visit: Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programme - Staffordshire University

Degree in Professional Policing (DIPP)

This route into policing is for someone who already has a BSc (Hons) in Professional Policing. This route may sometimes be referred to as pre-join.

Entry criteria:
A BSc (Hons) in Professional Policing.

Once you have graduated with a degree in professional policing, you will need to apply to join Staffordshire Police as a probationary police constable. To do this, you must:

  • apply within five years of your graduation date
  • meet all of the recruitment criteria for Staffordshire Police.

Applicants applying for this route will not need to undertake any further academic learning. Instead, successful applicants will receive in force training within different operational policing departments across Staffordshire Police.

Additional information:
For more information about the DIPP entry route, email hrrecruitment@staffordshire.police.uk. You can also find out which universities are offering a professional policing degree: https://www.college.police.uk/career-learning/joining-new-pc/universities-offering-professional-policing-degree

Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)

This route into policing is for someone who already has Maths and English Level 2 or equivalent.

Entry criteria:
   • Maths and English Level 2 or Equivalent
   • Full UK Drivers Licence

Programme length:
The PCEP course is for two years and includes all in force training within different operational policing departments across Staffordshire Police as a Probationary Officer. Upon successful completion of the course you will become a substantive Police Constable.

Additional Information:
For more information about the PCEP route email hrrecruitment.team@staffordshire.police.uk
There is also more information about the different routes into policing here: Police constable entry routes - College of Policing

Skills and experience

We need people who are:

  • At least 17 years of age when submitting the application – 18 years upon appointment.
  • Good at taking the initiative to resolve complex situations.
  • Good at negotiation and problem-solving.
  • Quick to adapt and keen to have a varied and unpredictable workload on a daily basis.
  • Able to work as part of a wider team but also confident to work alone.
  • Good communicators and able to explain issues clearly to a varied audience.
  • Able to pass a job-related fitness test and undertake regular patrols in all weather conditions.
  • A holder of a UK driving license.

 

Eligibility

Policing is an extremely rewarding but demanding career, so it’s important to understand what’s expected of you in the role you apply for.

View our eligibility criteria to find out more:

Eligibility & Recruitment Process

Transferee opportunity

We’re looking for police officers to join our Public Protection Unit and help protect vulnerable people across Staffordshire.

This opportunity is open to detectives (Detective Constables and Detective Sergeants) as well as police officers wishing to become detectives from other police forces who would like to transfer into Staffordshire Police.

Find out more

Questions?

Due to social distancing restrictions in place because of Covid-19, the College of Policing has adapted the police officer application process. Please find more information on our Covid-19 changes to police officer page.


The national police recruitment site has a list of common questions here.

Alternatively, view our police officer FAQs covering eligibility to the recruitment process.

Covid19 changes to police officer applications and assessments.