Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)

Change your life today by embarking on your career with Durham Constabulary with the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).

This route allows you to earn a competitive salary without the requirement to complete a formal qualification.

The Police Constable Entry Programme is a new two-year training programme that includes both classroom based and on-the-job learning from our experienced colleagues and in-house specialist police training team.

We’re excited to be one of the first forces in the country to introduce the ‘fourth route’ into policing, alongside our existing pathways.

Unlike the other three entries, the PCEP route does not require applicants to have a degree and you will not complete one as part of your assessment and probation.

However, the force will provide you the opportunity to have your work accredited to a Level 5 qualification (this is not a mandatory requirement to joining via the PCEP route).  

Eligibility criteria

• You must be at least 17 to apply and 18 at the time of appointment. 
• Applicants should be British citizens, or passport holders from a full EU Member State. You can also apply if you're a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national who is resident in the UK with indefinite leave to remain. 
• You must have lived in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application.  
• You must not be a member of the British National Party (BNP) plus other organisations such as Combat 18 or The National Front. 
• If you have a criminal record, this doesn't mean you're automatically ineligible; it depends on the nature of your conviction. Please declare anycaution or conviction on your application form. Failure to do so will result in failing vetting due to integrity issues. 
• You must not be registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, have outstanding County Court Judgements against you, or be subject to a current Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA). 
• Tattoos which are offensive, garish, prominent or numerous are not acceptable. Please supply photos and measurements of any tattoos along with your application, as per application guidance. 
• You must hold a full manual driving licence prior to commencing with Durham Constabulary.  

Qualifications  

 To be eligible applicants must possess at least one of the following qualifications:  

• 2 x A levels or an NVQ Level 3 qualifications as a minimum - plus GCSE Maths and English A – C (9 – 4) grade. 
• A policing qualification approved by the sector skills council for the Justice sector (Certificate of Knowledge in Policing – CKP) 
• Two years’ service as a special constable - attained independent patrol status, performing minimum hours (16 hours per month average) at the time of application. 
• Two years’ service as a community support officer designated under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 at the time of application. 
• Two years’ service in a police staff role which is considered by the chief officer to prepare a person for service as a member of a police force. In Durham these roles are:
   
  • CET file builder 
  • Detention officer 
  • Call handler / dispatcher 
  • Investigative officer 
  • CSI 
  • Front counter clerk

How to apply

Check our vacancies page for details on current recruitment.