Detective Degree Holder Entry Programme 2023

Our exciting Detective Degree Holder Entry Programme is your opportunity to become a fully accredited detective in just two years; helping us achieve our policing priorities of preventing and responding to crime, helping and protecting vulnerable people and using your skills to bring justice for victims.

As a detective you will deal with some of the most serious crimes possible. From fraud, serious assaults and child protection, through to homicide, high level drugs importation and domestic abuse; you will analyse the evidence, interview suspects and uncover the truth.

If you’re a degree holder with the compassion to help build trusting relationships; the tenacity to see a case through from start to finish; the desire to get justice for victims and the emotional resilience to keep calm, yet confident, then a detective career could be for you.

This is an intensive course, which will require commitment and dedication to both serving the public and meeting the demands of the development programme. In return, we promise a good starting salary, supportive working environment, great training experiences, opportunities for progression and, upon successful completion of your training, a graduate diploma in professional policing practice.

There are a limited number of spaces on our Detective Degree Holder Entry Programme and we anticipate high levels of interest in the opportunity. We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible as it may be necessary to close the recruitment window early.

The Role

The Detective Degree Holder Entry Programme uses one of the new entry routes into policing – the Degree Holder Entry Programme. These entry routes recognise police officers operate at a level where they take personal responsibility for decisions in complex, unpredictable environments and help provide the skills and capabilities necessary for policing in the 21st Century.

You will be employed as a Police Officer from day one, gaining valuable experience of the role while studying towards your accreditation as a detective and your graduate diploma in professional policing practice.

Training will initially be at Surrey Police Headquarters in Guildford, where you will gain the fundamental skills and knowledge you need to succeed. You will then be posted to a division and spend a short period of time on Response, applying what you have learnt. Once you have with the support of your coaching and development officer, take on your first cases.

You will also be required to sit the National Investigators’ Examination; a multiple choice exam which is designed to ensure individuals have the right knowledge, understanding and application of relevant law and procedure to perform effectively as a detective.

Eligibility

All applicants must:

• Have successfully completed, and be able to evidence, a UK undergraduate degree (360 credits) in any subject. Applicants with non – UK degrees can be considered if their degree is recognised as equivalent by UK NARIC but will need to provide evidence of an acceptable English language qualification if their degree was not taught and assessed in English.
• Applicants that are graduating in the summer of 2022 are able to apply. You will need to upload evidence of completion of university modules to date when you apply.
• Be aged 17 years or over (you must be 18 when you start).
• Have been a UK resident for the past three years. (If you do not currently fulfil the criteria this will be reviewed on a case by case basis, please contact the recruitment team for further information)
• Be a British citizen, a citizen of a country that is a member of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national who is resident in the UK and free from restrictions.
• Have a full UK manual driving licence (by time of appointment)
• Not be a current or previous member of any proscribed terrorist organisation or group.
• Not have tattoos which could cause offence (Please contact the recruitment team for further advice).
• Not have six penalty points or more.
• Not have served a prison sentence.

Additional Information

• Stage 1: Application Form and Eligibility Checks
• Stage 2: National Sift - Behavioral Style Questionnaire and Situational Judgement Test
• Stage 3: National Assessment Centre - Written briefing and competency-based interview
• Stage 4: Detective Assessment
• Stage 5: Pre-employment checks consisting of vetting, medical, biometric vetting and substance misuse testing and fitness testing.

We anticipate starting dates will be from October 2023 onwards. Please note that we cannot guarantee any specific start date.

Please note that during the first 15 weeks of training you will not be able to take any annual leave.

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.