Police Constable Entry Programme - Detective (PCEP-D) - Hertfordshire Constabulary

Hertfordshire Constabulary
Permanent
Full Time
Local Policing Command
Forcewide
£34,164 (includes South-East allowance of £3000)

Please note, if this is a paid role and the role is part time then the salary quoted will be pro rata based on the hours worked per annum.

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11/01/2026, 23:55

Join us and make a real different in Hertfordshire!

Police Constable Entry Programme – Detective (PCEP-D)

Duration of training – 3 years

Starting salary - £34,164 (rising to 53,256) - includes a South-East regional allowance of £3,000.

Are you naturally curious, driven to seek justice, and passionate about protecting your community? If so, becoming a Detective through our PCEP-D programme could be your perfect career path.

This exciting route offers you the chance to become a fully qualified Detective Constable in just three years, investigating serious crimes such as burglary, robbery, sexual offences, and organised crime. You’ll play a vital role in safeguarding victims and bringing offenders to justice.

Why Choose PCEP-D?

  • Earn while you learn – You’ll be a paid Police Officer from day one.
  • Structured training – A blend of classroom learning, practical experience, and specialist rotations.
  • Supportive environment – Our experienced teams will guide you every step of the way.
  • Inclusive and accessible – We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and offer tailored support, including workplace adjustments and dyslexia screening.

Why Hertfordshire?

  • Salary progression up to £53,256 (including regional allowance)
  • Contributory pension scheme
  • 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service)
  • A fulfilling career making a real difference

Your Journey to Becoming a Detective

  • Year 1: 21 weeks of classroom learning + 10 weeks of tutorship with a trained constable.
  • Year 2: 9 weeks of advanced learning.
  • Year 3: Specialist rotations in investigative teams.
  • You’ll also complete personal safety training and learn to use key ICT systems.

Your progress will be assessed through exams, presentations, essays, and a work-based competency portfolio. Our training is designed to be accessible and supportive, even if you’re new to policing.

We’re Looking for People Who Are:

  • Curious and resilient
  • Committed to making a difference
  • Ready to learn and grow in a dynamic environment

Entry requirements:

Applicants must hold a full UK manual driving licence at the time of application. This is a mandatory requirement for all Police Officers. 

We are unable to accept applications without these main entry requirements.

Please note: This role has been identified as high-risk in relation to potential DNA and fingerprint contamination within forensic processes. As such, successful candidates will be required to provide a DNA and Fingerprint elimination sample as part of their pre-employment checks.

The sample will be used to conduct a speculative search against our database and then solely for contamination elimination purposes and held on a secure elimination database in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

Provision of this sample is a condition of employment for roles identified as high-risk.

Help us deliver outstanding policing for everyone.
We believe that to serve our communities effectively, we need people from all backgrounds, bringing a wide range of life and professional experiences. This helps us reflect the communities we serve and ensures we deliver the best possible service.


Why Choose a Career in Policing?
Hertfordshire Constabulary is recognised as a pioneering and forward-thinking service, responsible for policing a large, diverse, and multicultural population.

If you're looking for a meaningful and rewarding career—where you can make a real difference, take on new challenges, and gain a wide variety of experiences—then we want to hear from you.


What We Offer
We’re proud to support our people with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

  • Pension Schemes: Access to the Police Pension Scheme, with employer contributions and death-in-service benefits.
  • Generous Annual Leave: 25 to 30 days (depending on rank and length of service).
  • Sick Pay: Up to six months full pay and six months half pay (depending on service).
  • Family Leave: Occupational maternity, adoption, and paternity pay (depending on service).
  • Carers and Discretionary Leave
  • Flexible Working: Including compressed hours, flexible shifts, job sharing, annualised hours, and agile working (role dependent).
  • Wellbeing Support: Local wellbeing teams, on-site gym facilities and exercise classes (location dependent).
  • Sports & Social Clubs: Enjoy discounts, trips, and events through our dedicated clubs.
  • Cycle to Work Scheme
  • Blue Light Card App: Option to sign up for discounts in-store and online for emergency service workers.
  • Financial Support: Access to Police Mutual for savings plans, insurance, loans, and independent financial advice.
  • Employee Assistance Programme: Confidential support for personal and professional wellbeing.
  • Staff Support Networks: Including groups for Black and Minority Ethnic colleagues, LGBTQ+ colleagues, disability awareness, menopause support, faith-based groups, and more.
  • Access to Federation/Supts Association/COPSA (rank dependant).
  • Career Development: Opportunities for progression, promotion, and continuous improvement training.


Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to building a workforce that is inclusive and truly representative of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially those currently under-represented in policing, including:

  • Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities
  • People of all ages and abilities
  • All faiths and religions
  • LGBTQ+ communities
  • Individuals from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds

All applications are assessed fairly and based on the evidence you provide and your suitability for the role.

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Police Barred and Advisory Lists
Individuals placed on the Police Barred and Advisory lists will not be considered for employment by the police for a minimum of 5 years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or 3 years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance.


Vetting and Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.

Hertfordshire Constabulary recognises the growing use of AI tools in preparing job applications. While these tools can support you in expressing your skills and experience more effectively, their use must align with the principles of honesty, integrity, originality, and personal accountability. We want to learn about you and your own personal experiences and how these make you suitable for the role, this will be assessed throughout the recruitment process including at interview, which AI cannot replace. Please click HERE to find out more about the acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in our recruitment process.  

This advert is closed to applications.