Police Officer - Professional Policing Degree (PC-PPD)

Thames Valley Police; Kidlington; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional police force seeks applicants for a two-year entry program for those holding a Professional Policing Degree. This role includes a 12-14 week training period, followed by operational coaching. The starting salary is £34,164, with future earnings surpassing £53,000 by the seventh year. Candidates must be UK residents, age 18+, and capable of meeting physical and mental health standards. The application targets Buckinghamshire, with potential posts in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old by the start date.
• Must be a British citizen or a Commonwealth citizen with indefinite stay.
• Good character without a serious criminal history.

Responsibilities

• Undertake training critical to 21st century policing.
• Provide operational coaching and tutoring in local policing areas.
• Progression opportunities upon passing probation.

Skills

Good health and fitness

Decision-making

Ability to perform mental and physical duties

Education

Professional Policing Degree

Job description

Eligibility

All Applicants Must Meet The Following Criteria

• be at least 17 years of age upon application but must be 18 years of age by your first day in the role
• be a British citizen, an EC/EEA national with Pre‑Settled/Settled status, or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with Indefinite Leave to Remain and no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom
• residency – have been a UK resident for the last three years
• have completed the Professional Policing Degree or be in the last two years of study
• apply within five years of your graduation date
• hold a full manual UK driving licence by the time of formal offer
• not have served any time in prison or youth detention (if you have a criminal conviction, it may lead to your application being rejected – we will take into account the date, nature of offence plus evidence of good character since the offence)
• be in good health and able to physically and mentally perform your duties
• not have any piercings or tattoos which could cause offence
• live within 40 road miles and 1 hour commute of two of our main police stations before a formal job offer is made. Flexibility is expected in terms of postings as we may need to post to certain locations based on organisational need and this might not be your preferred location.

If you already hold the Professional Policing Degree (PPD) or are in the second or third year of your study then this is the entry route for you.

The PPD entry route is a two-year work‑based programme. You will undertake a period of initial learning of 12‑14 weeks at our training centre in Sulhamstead or Kidlington, before moving to your designated Local Policing Area for further operational coaching and tutoring.

You will undertake training in areas critical to effective 21st century policing, such as evidence‑based policing, decision‑making and discretion, risk and public protection and criminality and crime prevention.

Once you have successfully passed your two year probation you will be able to consider further opportunities of progression and specialism within the force.

This programme offers a fantastic opportunity for you to continue to learn beyond your initial degree, whilst earning a salary as a fully warranted police officer from day one.

The starting salary for all new recruits is £34,164 (which includes £3,000 South‑East allowance). On the current system officers can expect to be earning a salary in excess of £53,000 per annum by your seventh year in the job.

This application is primarily for Buckinghamshire covering Amersham, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Milton Keynes police stations. However, if you can reach other main stations in Oxfordshire or Berkshire, those locations will also be taken into account when a positing decision is made. You should not apply for multiple locations.

Start date: late 2026

Be the difference you want to see. At Thames Valley Police, we are committed to better reflect the communities that we serve. We encourage applications from our under‑represented communities including all ethnic or religious backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and women.

Our Positive Action and Engagement Team provide support and guidance to anyone from an ethnically diverse background throughout the police officer recruitment process as well as advise on career development and progression. They can be contacted via: [e-mail]