Degree in professional policing
The Professional Policing Degree Holder programme is aimed at those who already have, or are in the final year of studying for, an undergraduate degree in Professional Policing. Applications must be made within five years of graduation.
Please note should this police officer entry route be oversubscribed; it may be necessary for us to make changes to your entry route based on your eligibility to secure your optimum joining date. If this is the case, we will contact you.
The national sift has been designed to allow you to demonstrate your suitability for entry to the next stage of the recruitment process. The national sift consists of two exercises: the situational judgement test (SJT) and a behavioural styles questionnaire (BSQ).
These exercises are used to assess capabilities, strengths and behaviours that are important within the role you have applied for. The Competency and Values Framework (CVF) sets out the behaviours expected in policing. For the national sift, the competencies review criteria is set at level 1. You can find out more about the Competency and Values Framework on our website. For the national sift, no prior policing knowledge is required to complete the exercises. For more information about the national sift please view the College of Policing website.
The College of Policing online assessments are a selection of exercises used to assess your suitability to fulfil the role of police constable. These exercises are mandatory assessments designed specifically for the recruitment of police constables.
Throughout the exercises, you will be assessed against the competencies and values that are important for effective police constables. The competency and values framework (CVF) sets out the behaviours expected in policing. For police constable recruitment, the competencies review criteria is set at level 1. For more information about the Online Assessment process, please see the College of Policing website.
You will be invited to a face-to-face interview with serving officers and staff where we will test you on our competencies and values framework.
We will contact you with further information by email about:
- when and where your interview will take place
- guidance about the format of the interview
Your interview is an opportunity for you to demonstrate why you should join our team.
Please note this is a formal assessment and therefore the dress code is smart.
You will start your training at our training college with some classroom-based learning. You will also join an operational policing team who you will work alongside in operational day-to-day policing.
The programme will cover a wide range of policing topics including:
- policing, police law and police powers
- protection, vulnerability and public protection
- policing communities, response policing and investigating crime
- police leadership, coaching and mentoring
- officer safety training
- emergency life support
- safeguarding
- crime investigation and operational policing skills
You will undertake a number of operational, written and practical assessments throughout the programme to demonstrate your ability to carry out your policing responsibilities. In addition, you will also be required to complete a portfolio in which you will record your achievements and provide evidence of your progress in order to pass your operational assessments against a range of critical policing skills.
You will be fully supported throughout the process, helping you to develop and enhance the skills and experience you need for this challenging but rewarding role.
Many people fail the vetting process because they withhold information.
You will not qualify for vetting clearance if you:
- have any county court judgments (CCJs) outstanding
- have been registered bankrupt and have not discharged your bankruptcy. You will not be considered until three years after the discharge of the debt. Debt Relief Orders (DRO) are treated in the same way as bankruptcy
- refuse to discuss a relevant matter or engage with the vetting process
If you have applied for a police officer role (including special constable) or as a member of support staff and you are in the evidential chain, your application will be rejected where:
- offences were committed as an adult or juvenile which resulted in a prison sentence (including custodial, suspended or deferred sentence and sentences served at a young offender's institution or community home) or
- you are a registered sex offender or are subject to a registration requirement in respect of any other conviction
View the full vetting guidance.