What you could be doing | Detective Constable Degree Holder Programme
The programme is a fantastic combination of on the job learning and university study
Detective Constable Degree Holder Programme
As a detective there is no room for assumptions. Being diligent and collecting evidence based on facts are all part of each line of enquiry you’ll follow. You’ll work on some of society’s most challenging issues including child exploitation, sexual assault and murder. You’ll be driven by your personal mission of working to protect the victims of crime from future harm. You’ll learn about humans, how they behave, and how they shape the fabric of society.
It's a unique role with unique demands that are ever-changing. You need to be adaptable to change and ready to think on your feet. At the same time, it's a role that can give you some of the best and proudest days of your life. From protecting the vulnerable and saving lives, it's exciting, diverse and vitally important.
In return, you will have the benefit of working for a creative, forward-thinking force that is dedicated to keeping Derbyshire a safe place to live, work and visit.
We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and encourage anyone who has considered a career in policing to apply. We are particularly keen to increase the number of women officers and officers from black and minority ethnic communities and candidates from the LGBT community, so that we can truly reflect the communities that we serve in Derbyshire.
Entry Routes - Detectives Constable DHEP
This route is available if you will already hold a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law, Social Work, Psychology or related subjects and are eager to pursue a career in investigation. The Detective DHEP is a rigorous, intensive, and demanding two-year programme. Like the Police Constable DHEP, it is a work-based programme, supported by on and off the job learning.
On successful completion of your probation, you will achieve a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice, as well as successfully obtaining the National Investigators Examination (NIE) and undertake a number of investigation courses, whilst working towards completion of Operational Competence Portfolio (PIP2) to qualify you as a detective constable.
During your probation you’ll work within a number of our investigation teams, learning the core skills of investigation. Once you are an accredited detective and become more experienced a whole world of roles and opportunities opens up within some of our specialist investigation teams including CID, Public Protection, Major Crime, Serious and Organised Crime and Cyber Crime investigations.
The role is vast and the opportunities to investigate are endless, you could be dealing with robbery one day only to be confronted with a potential murder the next.
Entry Routes - Detective Constable DHEP (PIP2)
If you hold a bachelor’s degree (level 6) in any subject and are PIP2 accredited or working towards accreditation by the end of April 2023, then this fast-track route is for you to become a detective constable.
This route is like our other DHEP routes, it is a two-year work-based programme, supported by on and off the job learning. You’ll achieve a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice and your initial training will cover all aspects of operational policing, like our police officers and work towards being signed off as competent on core policing duties.
You’ll then move into a detective role in one of our investigation teams, around 9 months of your service and in your second year a whole world of roles and opportunities opens up within some of our specialists investigation teams including CID, Major Crime Unit, Serious and Organised Crime and Cyber Crime investigations.
On successful completion of your probation you may decide you want to become a Sergeant and go through the national promotional process. Anyone promoted will be required to return to operational duties for a short period (6-12 months).
Career progression
On completing probation, the following career path is available. As a Police Constable, you’ll be able to apply for specialist units.
What do you need?
All applicants must be a UK Citizen, EU Citizen with EU Settled Status, a Commonwealth Citizen or Foreign National with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have lived here for the three years immediately preceding your application.
You must also be between 17 and 57 years old on the date of submitting your application.
To qualify for the Detective DHEP, you must have a bachelor’s degree or be in your last year of study (or equivalent qualification) in Criminology, Law, Social Work, Psychology or related subjects.
Or you are PIP2 qualified or working towards accreditation by end of April 2023 and already hold a bachelor’s degree (level 6) in any subject.
Accepted qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree e.g. BA/ BSc/ Bed
- Bachelor’s Degree with Honours e.g. BA(Hons)/ BSc(Hons)
- Degree Apprenticeship
Qualifications not accepted for either route:
Graduate Certificate*
Graduate Diploma*
Level 6 Award*
Level 6 Certificate*
Level 6 NVQ*
Irish Foundation Degree
Irish Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
Irish Higher Certificate
*Please note these are classed as the same standard as a Level 6 but are not Degree based and therefore cannot be accepted for DHEP.
You must hold a full UK/EU valid manual driving licence at offer stage which is typically 6 weeks prior to the cohort start date.
You’ll need to pass a Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT9) to check your fitness levels. This test determines whether you’re fit for the job and ready for Officer Safety Training, where you’ll learn to protect yourself and others. You’ll also be asked to take a running test (known as a multi-stage shuttle run or bleep test) to level 5:4.
You’ll need to undergo a medical assessment to make sure you’re healthy enough for the intense training. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Our Occupational Health Team will generally carry out the assessment. They’ll check:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Eyesight
Colour vision
Lung function
Hearing
You’ll also be asked to complete a confidential medical history questionnaire. Depending on your medical history, we may have to contact your GP/specialist for further information. Once you have been declared medically fit, we’ll progress your application to the next stage.
You can check your Body Mass Index at www.nhs.uk or find out more about healthy eating at www.nhs.uk/change4life
You must declare any previous spent and unspent convictions and have a basic background check to get Security Check level clearance. Applicants with cautions, convictions or reprimands, other than some motoring offences, may not be accepted.
What you could experience as a detective constable
Life as a detective constable is hugely varied. From volume and priority investigations, through to serious crimes. No two days are the same. We asked an experienced detective constable what they could experience in a typical day.
What may hold you back?
You cannot apply to join the frontline if you:
- Have had an application turned down by a police force in the last three months at any stage of the national process. The national process includes Online Assessment, fitness test and pre-employment checks.
- Have been or are a member of a group or extreme political organisation such as BNP, National Front or Combat 18 that stirs up racial hatred and violence, a proscribed terrorist organisation/group or a similar organisation.
- Are waiting to appear in court or have any serious convictions or recent cautions, bind-overs or findings of guilt.
- Misuse drugs, solvents or anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits.
- Have tattoos on your face, neck or hands that could cause offence. If you have a tattoo, you’ll be asked to provide a description and photographs of the tattoo. The nature, location, size, prominence and appearance of tattoos will be considered.
- Have any current County Court Judgements (CCJs) against you, or are the subject of an Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA). If you’ve been registered bankrupt, you may only apply if it is at least three years since the date your debts were discharged.
Our approach to recruitment
We’re proud to employ some of the very best talent in the Derbyshire and beyond. Their talent and dedication are what make our force so successful. In order to select those people, we apply an objective process and provide a world-class candidate experience. Our process is built on ensuring equality of opportunity for all and appointing the best person for the job.
Our recruitment process for police officers