Durham Constabulary
Police Constable - PCEP Entry Programme
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Ready to Make a Difference in Your Community?
Join Durham Constabulary – Become a Police Constable
Durham Constabulary is now welcoming applications to join our next intake of Police Constables. If you're motivated by purpose, passionate about community, and ready for a career where no two days are the same, we want to hear from you.
We're Recruiting Through
Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) a mixed economy cohort:
- Response officers
- Neighbourhood Officers
- Direct Entry Detectives
All routes play a vital part in keeping our communities safe, offering unique opportunities to develop your skills, build experience, and make a real difference to the public we serve.
Response Policing
Role
Response officers are often the first to attend incidents and deal with a wide variety of situations. Key aspects of the role include:
- Responding to emergency and non-emergency incidents.
- Managing ongoing incidents and safeguarding vulnerable people.
- Conducting initial investigations and gathering evidence.
- Arresting offenders and dealing with immediate threats to public safety.
- Working in a fast-paced environment with no two shifts the same.
Neighbourhood Policing
Role
Neighbourhood officers focus on long-term problem solving and building strong relationships within communities. Key aspects of the role include:
- Developing partnerships with local communities, businesses, and agencies.
- Identifying and addressing local policing priorities.
- Preventing crime and anti-social behaviour through engagement and problem solving.
- Supporting community events and reassurance activities.
- Building local knowledge to help tackle issues affecting residents.
Whichever route you take, you will receive comprehensive training, support, and development opportunities to help you build a successful and rewarding career in policing.
Detective
Spend your first 12 months in Response Policing, developing the core skills of a Police Constable.
- Progress onto a dedicated Detective career pathway in Year 2.
- Undertake and pass the National Investigators' Examination (NIE) and work towards PIP 2 Investigator Accreditation.
- Investigate complex crimes, gather evidence, and help bring offenders to justice.
- Use problem-solving, analytical thinking, and decision-making skills to support investigations.
- Build relationships with local communities while protecting vulnerable people and preventing crime.
- Respond to incidents, provide reassurance to the public, and make a positive difference every day.
Make a Difference Where It Matters
Policing is more than a job, it's a chance to make a real and lasting difference.
As a Frontline Police Officer, You'll
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- Build trust and strong relationships across diverse communities
- Respond to incidents and protect those most in need
- Tackle crime and contribute to safer neighbourhoods
- Support victims and bring offenders to justice
- Help protect vulnerable members of our society
We're looking for people from all backgrounds, experiences and walks of life. Whether you're starting your career or looking for a new challenge, your unique perspective is valuable to us. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
This is a fast-paced and demanding role, but it is also deeply rewarding. You'll need resilience, empathy and a commitment to public service.
Start Your Policing Career. Make a Difference From Day One.
Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career where you can make a real impact in your community? The Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) offers a direct route into policing, providing the training, support and practical experience needed to become a fully warranted police officer.
The PCEP combines classroom-based learning with operational policing experience, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to protect the public, investigate crime and support victims. You will also gain a Level 5 – professional policing practise in partnership with Northumbria University.
The Programme
The PCEP is designed to provide you with all the training required to perform the role of a Police Constable.
You'll Learn Through a Combination Of
- Structured classroom-based learning
- Practical operational experience
- On-the-job coaching from experienced officers and trainers
- Ongoing professional development throughout your probation period
You’ll be employed as a Police Constable, working alongside experienced colleagues while developing the knowledge and skills needed for a successful policing career.
What You Will Gain
- A starting salary from day one, with incremental progression
- Comprehensive police officer training
- Hands-on operational experience across a variety of policing areas
- Development of critical decision-making, problem-solving and leadership skills
- Ongoing support from experienced trainers and operational supervisors
- A rewarding and varied career serving the communities of County Durham and Darlington
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking individuals who are:
- Committed to serving and protecting their communities
- Resilient, adaptable and able to perform under pressure
- Strong communicators with a willingness to learn
- Dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity
These rewards include helping some of the most vulnerable people in our community to feel safe and secure. You will gain job satisfaction through robustly dealing with criminals and enforcing the law. You will work individually and as part of a team to secure justice and create a sense of unity within our communities.
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We offer a competitive pension scheme and access to a wide range of wellbeing and employee discount benefits.
We recognise that policing is fast-paced and demanding. That's why we are proud to be a wellbeing-focused organisation, providing support through our TRiM referral system, Occupational Health and Welfare Services, Counselling Services and Senior Leadership Team.
We also offer opportunities for career progression and specialisation across a wide range of policing disciplines, including Response, CID, Safeguarding, Firearms, Digital Investigation, Dogs and Roads Policing, as well as promotion opportunities from Constable through to Chief Constable.
Important
This role includes shift work, including nights, weekends and public holidays, as we provide a 24/7 policing service.
Salary & Benefits
- Starting salary: £32,256 – £52,014
- Plus 10% shift allowance for hours worked between 8pm and 6am
- Ongoing training, development and career progression opportunities
- Comprehensive initial training and support throughout probation
- Access to policing specialisms and promotion opportunities throughout your career
Eligibility – PCEP Route
To Apply, You'll Need
- Two A Levels (or equivalent Level 3 qualification)
- Level 2 qualification in English and Maths (GCSE Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent)
- A full UK manual driving licence
We also welcome applications from candidates who hold international qualifications. Guidance on recognised equivalents can be provided during the application process.
Recruitment Stages
- Initial application sift
- National Online Assessment
- Online Assessment Centre:
- Video Interview
- Written Exercise
- Briefing Exercise
- Final Interview (Police Headquarters)
Successful Candidates Will Then Complete:
- Fitness Test
- Medical Assessment
- Vetting Checks
- References
Key Information
PCEP Discovery Event: Tuesday 1st September 2026 at 6pm via Microsoft Teams
Inclusive Recruitment
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and are dedicated to fair and accessible recruitment processes. We have various support networks within force that can offer guidance and advice for all protected characteristics.
If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, we will support you.
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