National Detective Programme - Counter Terrorism

Our National Detective Programme in Counter Terrorism is a salaried two-year training and development graduate programme. It is designed to develop your leadership and problem-solving abilities to equip you with the skills required in modern Counter Terrorism detective work. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will have a permanent role within the Metropolitan Police Service within Counter Terrorism (SO15). 

Being a detective is all about how you interpret information and being able to spot clues where others don’t, allowing you to see below the surface. Society is changing and people are demanding better, for our communities, and from our police service. 

You’ll collaborate with others, combining insight and evidence to pursue and prevent the most critical threats to our communities and country – terrorism. Your primary objective is to keep people safe, by reducing the risk of vulnerable people being drawn into extremism, investigating and bringing terrorists to justice. 

Whether driving change in the police service alongside your colleagues, or improving relations with the public to build trust, your work will change the future for the better. You’ll work on complex and sensitive investigations, requiring discretion and precision. The intelligence you gather and the answers you’ll uncover, will be crucial to the security of our society and protecting innocent lives. 

We are looking for talented graduates from all degree disciplines. You don’t need any previous policing knowledge or experience to have the potential to become the next generation of police detectives. 

About the Metropolitan Police Service 

London has a population of over 8.8 million and with more than 43,000 officers and staff, you will be joining the largest police force in the UK. The Met’s vision is to make London the safest global city by being the best crime-fighters, by any measure; earning the trust and confidence of every community and taking pride in the quality and efficiency of their service so people love, respect and are proud of London’s Met. One way this will be achieved is by countering terrorism and reviewing strategy, tactics, and resources in light of the threat. 

While the expectations of what their police officers will achieve are high, the Metropolitan Police Service is committed to providing Police Now participants with the training, support and tools needed to complement Police Now’s training, enabling them to have a significant impact in London’s most challenging communities. 

Eligibility 

To apply for this programme, you must: 

• be over 17 years of age or older on application, (and 18 by the time of appointment) 
• be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, your application will still be considered
• have been resident in the UK for the past ten years (If you’ve been abroad during the last ten years while serving in the UK Armed Forces, working for the UK government, as part of your university degree or on an extended holiday, your application will still be considered) 
• not currently be registered as bankrupt (or have bankruptcy debts that have been discharged within the past three years) 
• not have existing county court judgements outstanding against you 
• not be a current or previous member of a proscribed terrorist organisation or group 
• not plan to take an active role in politics once in role (this does not include voting, but would include canvassing for a political party) 
• be competent in written and spoken English and numeracy 
• hold at least one UK level 3 qualification in any subject, or non-UK equivalent 
• hold a 2.1 or above in any undergraduate degree from a UK university (or equivalent from a non-UK university) and have completed all education by the programme start date of March 2024, this includes part time or distance learning. If you hold a non-UK degree, you must prove that you hold an English qualification 
• have not undertaken the College of Policing-licensed pre-join degree in Professional Policing Practice 
• have not previously attested, trained or been employed as a police constable 

As you’ll be working within Counter Terrorism, you’ll be subject to Advanced Vetting, known as Developed Vetting (or DV), which is the highest government security clearance and required for handling sensitive information. 

Rewards and benefits 

Salary 

As a police detective constable in the Metropolitan Police Service (London) you will earn a starting salary of £33,717 (including allowances). Every 12 months on the anniversary of your joining date, your pay increases to the next pay point. Within six years you could expect to reach a salary of over £50,000. 

Leave 

You’ll start with 22 days per year (on top of public holidays), rising to 30 days depending on your length of service. You can also expect other forms of leave including adoption, maternity and paternity. 

Work-life balance 

This is not your typical 9-5. Police officers work varied shift patterns which gives them flexibility and freedom to maximise their time outside of work. Different to your typical working week, you’ll often receive several days off in a row. It may take some time to adapt to shift pattern working, but once you do, you may find that the flexibility of the schedule allows you to better balance work and home life. 

Free London travel 

Whether you’re on or off duty, you’ll enjoy free travel on London Underground and buses, seven days a week. You can also opt into a rail travel scheme for heavily discounted rail travel up to 70 miles from central London. 

Pension 

You’ll automatically be enrolled as a member of the Police Pension Scheme 2015, which awards police officers for their dedication and service to the public. It offers a generous and secure retirement package, providing officers with financial stability and peace of mind. 

Financial services discounts 

There are various partner organisations who work alongside the police to offer a variety of financial services including saving, investment and protection products, as well as discounts and subsidies. Many major high street stores, retail outlets and other national organisations offer discounts and special deals to police officers. Most police forces also provide access to a number of subsidised leisure and sporting activities. 

Personal support and advice 

Once you have received a conditional offer, you will be allocated a dedicated Recruitment Officer who will assist you with all stages of your onboarding into force: your vetting, medical tests, fitness tests, references, and induction days. 

Training and development 

You’ll be joining the only national entry route into policing designed specifically for graduates. The programme is delivered in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, and you will complete a bespoke Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice. You will also have access to a dedicated Performance and Development Coach who will provide tailored support. In addition, you will receive regular training, attend events and skills sessions, while having access to a national peer network to learn from and share experiences with. 

Onward career progression  

We expect participants to commit to a long-term investigative career in Counter Terrorism and many pathways will be open to you. After you finish the programme, you will have access to an alumni team who will continue to support your professional and personal development. This includes expert support on promotion applications, skills development sessions and social events. 

Application process 

During the application process you will be immersed in the role of a police detective and understand what it involves. The process from online application to conditional offer can take 3-6 weeks from start to finish. However, this is dependent on how quickly you complete each stage. 

Throughout each stage below, you’ll learn more about the life of a police detective: 

• Online application, including proof of eligibility 
• Online assessment 
• Digital assessment centre 
• Conditional offer 
• Pre-employment checks including: fitness test, BMI, medical, references and vetting 
• Programme start date, March 2024