Detective Constable Entry Programme

Detective Constables play a critical role in discovering the truth behind a crime. They gather, verify and assess all appropriate and available information to gain an accurate understanding of situations. They strive to achieve the desired outcomes for the victims and continue to provide reassurance and build confidence within the community.

Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 - “A Detective must pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry whether they point towards or away from a suspect”.

The role of a Detective Constable;

• Manage and conduct a range of complex investigations in your area of responsibility
• Gather, verify and assess all appropriate and available information to gain an accurate understanding of situations to an agreed case investigation plan
• Develop and evaluate strategies to manage investigations, working closely and communicating with staff at all levels
• Make decisions based on balancing risks, costs, benefits and the wider impact
• Use cutting-edge technology to help with the investigations
• Analyse and interpret data, examine records and documents
• Prepare, complete and submit accurate case papers and evidential files to the highest professional standard and within set time limits
• Handle and document exhibits
• Deal with forensic material and its submissions
• Conduct interviews and interrogations
• Participate in and conduct raids, searches or arrests
• Identify appropriate witnesses and obtain evidential accounts
• Work with all colleagues as a team
• Keep up to date with changes in legislation and procedures as they affect criminal investigation

Resilience, determination and compassion provide a strong foundation in the making of a successful Detective.

To be eligible applicants must meet at least one of the following entry qualification criteria:

The minimum eligibility requirement to apply to for the Detective Constable Entry Programme with Cheshire Constabulary is for applicants:

• to hold a degree level qualification - in a policing or crime related subject. However other degree level qualifications are welcome for consideration
• to hold a level 3 qualification (2x A Level grade A*- D) or equivalent Level 3 at the time of applying, preferably in a policing or crime related subject
• to have significant experience across a 3 - 5 year period of working in a Criminal Justice or Police Staff crime or investigative based role

Personal Eligibility

In addition to meeting at least one of the above 'Education eligibility' criteria, at the time of application candidates must also:

• be a European Economic Area (EEA) National or a Swiss National. (Commonwealth citizens and Foreign Nationals are also eligible to apply but are required to have leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period.)
• have resided in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application
• be aged at least 17 years of age
• possess a full UK manual driving license.
• not have a live application form at any stage of the police constable recruitment process with another Police Force.
• not have tattoos which cause offence, are excessive or considered unprofessional.
• ideally not have a criminal record. Any previous criminal convictions or cautions (including those spent), fixed penalty notices, traffic offences or any involvement with the police must be declared.
• not be registered bankrupt, subject to County Court Judgements or Independent Voluntary Agreements.
• be prepared to work shifts and serve anywhere in the Cheshire area.
• be dedicated to providing a service to the people of Cheshire and be prepared to uphold the Police Service Statement of Common Purpose and Values.
• meet the basic eligibility criteria to become a Police Constable.

The Standards required of a Police Officer are laid out nationally in the Code of Ethics, which can be accessed via the College of Policing website.
Applicants will only be considered if they meet the above essential criteria.

By joining Cheshire Constabulary on the Detective Constable Entry Programme you can expect a diverse, challenging but fulfilling career.

Cheshire has a population of just over one million people and the policing area of Cheshire covers 919 square miles with strategic crossroads in the national motorway infrastructure.

As a Detective Constable with Cheshire Constabulary you’ll get the chance to make a difference and really contribute to the lives of the people in the community, build relationships and tackle crime. Your job will be to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and promote confidence among local people that the police understand and are prepared to deal with the issues that matter most to them.

If you’ve got what it takes, we can offer you a wide range of benefits and rewards.

Cheshire Constabulary is proud to offer a benefits package that provides a range of opportunities and options for all.

Salary

As a new Detective Constable, you’ll receive a starting salary of £31,164 potentially rising to £50,256 within your first seven years.

Time Off

The starting annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days a year depending on your length of service. This is on top of public holidays in lieu. You can also expect other forms of leave, including maternity, paternity and adoption leave, special leave (with or without pay) and parental leave.

The security of a Police Pension

When you start as a new Detective Constable you’ll receive automatic membership of the police pension scheme. This isn't compulsory, so you can choose to opt out if you want to.

Career progression

Joining Cheshire Constabulary on the Detective Constable Entry Programme is the start of an exciting and rewarding journey that could take you anywhere.
This is a unique opportunity for you to be a Detective at the very start of your career with Cheshire Constabulary. DCEP has been designed so that after the completion of your initial training period of 18 weeks, you will undertake a 2-week Crime training course after which you will be posted into a Detective role where you will commence your detective journey where you will work alongside our experienced and qualified detectives in force and putting your training into practice as a Detective.
This unique opportunity will see you becoming a fully qualified Detective Constable by the end of your 2-year probation period.
You will undertake training and development sessions led by Crime Training where you will work towards completing Professionalising Investigation Programme One and Two. You will be required to complete and pass the National Investigators Exam, advanced Detective Training Course, and continue to work towards becoming a substantive detective constable. All of this will be achieved within your first two years, after which you will be successfully confirmed in the rank of detective constable.

Specialist roles
After becoming a Detective Constable, you will be able to build upon your experience or move into a variety of specialist detective roles dependent on your career aspirations and the vacancies across the force.

Postings
In agreeing to start with Cheshire Constabulary you are agreeing to our Posting Principles, which mean that you can be posted anywhere across the County. Our workforce planning team consider a range of information when deciding on your posting. As a Detective Constable with Cheshire Constabulary you can be posted anywhere across the county.
Cheshire Constabulary reserves the right to retract an offer at any stage of the on-boarding process.

What does the role of detective entail?

Our Detectives investigate anything from domestic abuse, fraud, robbery, child protection, cyber-crime, serious assaults, organised crime, right the way through to high-level drugs importation and serious organised crime.

What sort of investigative team would I be working in initially?

Following the completion of initial training, you will be posted to a response unit with a Local Policing Unit. Following competition of the Detective training, you will be posted to a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and a Public Protection Unit (PPU) in rotation.

Will I need to complete any exams or coursework?

You will need to complete an exam and a portfolio. The exam is the National Investigators exam which you will need to pass before undertaking specific Detective training. You will need to complete two portfolio’s to demonstrate competency. The first Student Officer Learning and Assessment Portfolio (SOLAP) that you will complete is what every new Police Officer completes following initial training. The second SOLAP will be your Detective portfolio that you will begin to complete following your first seven-week training course as a Detective. This will then be completed during your rotations on Detective Units.

What fitness requirements are needed?

You will need to be able to pass an endurance shuttle run (bleep test).
This involves running 15-metre shuttles to a series of audible beeps. During the test, the beeps will become progressively faster and you need to reach the end of the shuttle before the next beep sounds. You will need to achieve level 5.4 to pass.

What pre-employment checks will be carried out?

• Employment references - We will send reference requests to your current and previous employers/education establishments within the last 2 years
• Medical screening - You will either attend an appointment at HQ or have a phone consultation with our force doctor who will check BMI, eye sight, colour vision and hearing
• Fitness test - Will need to achieve level 5.4 of the 15m bleep test
• Biometric testing - Fingerprints and DNA samples are required to carry out vetting checks against the national police database
• Drugs test - A substance misuse test will be carried out by providing a hair sample
• Vetting checks - Vetting checks will be undertaken to consider yourself and immediate family. Police Officers have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption

Can I transfer my assessment centre/online assessment score?

You would need to apply via the force website and attach a copy of either your SEARCH score (over 50%) or online assessment centre confirmation email.

I have a live application with another force, can I still apply to Cheshire?

Yes you are able to have more than one live application with different forces.

Will having tattoos stop me from being able to apply?

Any tattoos that are visible/ on your body, which are offensive or unacceptable if they could be reasonably interpreted as being discriminatory, violent, intimidating, aggressive, homophobic, offensive and/ or indicate attitudes or views inconsistent with the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour. Tattoos on the neck, face and hands will not automatically proceed through the recruitment process. Please note that tattoos that do not meet the eligibility criteria, that are slight in appearance and considered to be inoffensive will be reviewed by Chief Officers on a case-by-case basis prior to an application being progressed.