Detective Constable

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Working as a Detective Constable is one of the most demanding, but also rewarding roles in Policing. As a detective, you will make West Mercia a safer place to live and work, protecting people from harm and providing the best outcomes for victims and their families.

Detective Constables and Police Constables have the same rank but undertake different operational roles. As a detective you will deal with some of the most serious and complex crimes, working on a variety of investigations including robbery, serious assaults, fraud and domestic abuse.

Your role will be to uncover the truth in the cases you investigate. You will analyse evidence, speak with witness and suspects and have the compassion and communication skills to deal with some very challenging situations.

The Detective Constable Entry Routes provides candidates with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to become a competent Police Officer before specialising in CID.

Following your initial foundation learning either as an apprentice on the PCDA, graduate on our DHEP scheme or through the Police Constable Entry Programme, you will join your new colleagues in uniform at a local police station to develop your basic vital policing skills responding to incidents, investigate crime, take part in community engagement and help problem solve some of the biggest challenges our communities face.

In year 2 of your chosen course you will have an additional interview with CID to ascertain your readiness for joining CID following completion of your Police Constable probation period.

The DHEP and PCEP route will allow you to complete an attachment to CID in Year 2 to work alongside CID colleagues on serious and complex criminal investigations to gain an understanding of the critical role Detectives play in protecting people from harm. You will also have the opportunity to take the academic specialism in the Advanced Operational Investigation module.

Once you have successfully completed your probation period (PCDA – 3 years) (DHEP/PCEP – 2 years) you will be considered for a Detective Constable post to work permanently in the CID department as a Trainee Investigator, whilst undertaking additional training, attachments and qualifications to enable you to become a fully accredited Detective.

If you are passionate about protecting people from harm and want to work in a demanding but rewarding profession our Detective Student Officer Programme could be just right for you.

As a student officer in the PCDA, DHEP, or PCEP Detective Constable Pathway, you will earn a starting salary of £29,907.

There are many opportunities to progress through the ranks and/or specialise in an area of policing that interests you after you have finished your programme.

Whichever direction you decide to take your policing career, we will support you and help you to develop into the best officer you can be.

Upon successful completion of your probation period, the following career path is available.

If you're applying through the Police Constable Entry Programme, then you will need to have an A Level 2 qualification in Maths/English at grade C/4 or higher and 2 A Levels (Grade A-E) or a Level 3 qualification in any subject (equivalent to 32 UCAS points).

An A Level 2 qualification in Maths/English at grade C/4 or higher and previous service in an emergency services role, military or armed forces considered to be operational by West Mercia Police for a minimum of 2 years within the past 5 years and have an exemplary reference. This includes PCSOs and Special Constables who have completed their probation or gained Independent Patrol Status.

If you're applying through the Degree Holder Entry Programme then you must have achieved, or are due to graduate in the year you are applying, with a Bachelor's Degree or higher.

If you're applying through the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Route, you do not need to have a degree but need to have Level 3 qualifications in any subject(s) that equate to 64 UCAS points (these could be from your A Levels, Level 3 Diplomas, Level 3 Apprenticeship, NVQs or an International Baccalaureate, to name a few). You can also apply if you have a full Level 4 qualification or a full Level 5 qualification, such as a degree, in a non-policing related subject.