Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship

Surrey and Sussex Police; London; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated police force committed to making a difference in the community. As a Police Officer, you'll tackle crime, engage with young people, and provide vital support to those in need. This role offers a rewarding career with a starting salary of £29,907, plus a South East Allowance. You'll receive excellent training and opportunities for progression, including a professional qualification in Policing Practice. If you're ready to serve the community with compassion and resilience, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Professional qualification in Policing Practice

Great training experiences

Opportunities for progression

Community engagement initiatives

Qualifications

• Must have a full UK manual driving license by the time of appointment.
• Achieved GCSE Maths and English at grade A*-C or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Tackle crime and engage with the community to ensure safety.
• Make quick decisions and provide assistance to those in need.

Skills

Judgment

Compassion

Empathy

Resilience

Education

GCSE Maths and English at grade A*-C/9-4

A Level grade A*-C or equivalent Level 3

Job description

Careers don’t come more rewarding than this. Tackling crime, taking knives off the streets, engaging and educating young people, and being the person everyone looks towards for help. A Police Officer’s role is demanding and diverse – no two days are the same.

We’re looking for people who have the judgment to make quick decisions; are confident to be the first person in; have the compassion and empathy to help those in need; who’ll have their colleagues' back no matter what and the resilience to serve the community every single day.

In return, we promise a good starting salary, great training experiences, opportunities for progression, the chance to achieve a professional qualification in Policing Practice, and the pride that comes from helping others. You will become part of our policing family; dedicated to keeping communities safe and feeling safe, identifying and protecting vulnerable people, preventing and responding to harm.

You will be paid a full-time salary of £29,907, plus £3,000 South East Allowance, and after three years will have achieved a Degree in Professional Policing Practice.

Chief Constables' Message

We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.

We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person, then we want to hear from you.

We wish you all the very best with your application.

Chief Constable Tim De Meyer & Chief Constable Jo Shiner

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the role of Police Officer you will need to:

1. be aged 17 years or over on the day you submit your application. You must be 18 years or over to start in post.
2. have lived in the UK for 3 continuous years immediately prior to application.
3. have leave to enter, or leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period.
4. have a current full UK manual driving licence, by the time of appointment.
5. not be a member (current or previous) of the British National Party (BNP) or any other proscribed terrorist organisations or groups.
6. not have tattoos which cause offence.
7. not have serious motoring offences.
8. not have 6 or more points on your licence.
9. Meet the below qualification criteria.

Qualification Criteria

To be eligible for PCDA you will need to:

1. Have achieved GCSE Maths and English at grade A*-C/9-4 or an educational equivalent to a Level 2. You will need to provide copies of your qualifications on your application form.
2. Have achieved one A Level grade A*-C or equivalent Level 3 AND one A level grade A*-E or AS level in a different subject, or equivalent Level 3. You must have a minimum of 48 UCAS points when both qualifications are combined. You can check how many points your qualification is worth on the UCAS tariff calculator.

You will need to provide copies of your qualifications with your application form.

Applicants in their final year of studying towards a Level 3 qualification can apply using predicted grades. You will need to supply proof of your qualifications when you receive your results in August.

Applicants can hold a Level 3 BTEC as long as this qualification or combination of qualifications meets the minimum 48 UCAS tariff points. The Certificate in Knowledge of Policing is accepted.

Applicants who do not meet the above Level 3 criteria and believe they have work experience equivalent to a level 3 can apply. Your work experience will be assessed against a Level 3 framework. You will be asked to complete a written experience assessment and online verbal reasoning and numerical tests. The results will then be assessed by a panel who will certify whether your previous work experience is equivalent to a Level 3 qualification. Please complete the Level 3 form attached and submit this with your application.

Applicants without a Level 3 qualification can be considered if they are a current serving (or have left within the last 18 months, having completed 18 months' service) as a Special Constable or PCSO with any police force.

Please complete the Level 3 form attached to this advert and submit this with your application.

We will also accept current Investigating Officers, PIP Investigators, Contact Officers or Controllers who have completed 18 months service (or have left within the last 18 months, having completed 18 months' service).

Experience in other operational policing roles can be considered on a case-by-case basis for candidates who have served a minimum of 2 years within the last 5 years and have exemplary references.

Applicants will also be considered as meeting the Level 3 qualification requirements, who have served for a minimum of 2 years within the last 5 years in the armed forces or similar law enforcement agencies and have exemplary references.

Contact Us

If you have a query about any aspect of your recruitment journey, be that eligibility requirements, completing the application form, or you want to find out more about what happens after you have submitted your application, our recruitment experts can answer your questions.

Email the team to book a one-to-one conversation.

If you hold a degree or are currently studying for one you will need to apply for our Police Constable Entry Programme. Visit our website to find out more.

Recruitment Process

Stage 1: Application Form and Eligibility Checks
Stage 2: National Sift - Behavioural Style Questionnaire and Situational Judgement Test
Stage 3: National Assessment Centre - Written briefing and competency-based interview
Stage 4: Competency Based Interview
Stage 5: Pre-employment checks consisting of references, vetting, medical, biometric vetting, substance misuse testing, and fitness testing.
We anticipate starting dates will be from September 2025 onwards. Please note that we cannot guarantee any specific start date.
Please note that during the first 16 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 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 the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to 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 Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter, and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness, and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our full anti-racism statement here.

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 belief, we would love to hear from you.

Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Surrey Police and Sussex Police.

Additional Information

Following submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.

Attachments

• Level 3 Eligibility Form (1).docx