Police Officer (PCDA) Recruitment Campaign - HC618796

Police Officer (PCDA) Recruitment Campaign - HC618796

Could you help play a key role in making Hampshire & Isle of Wight a safe place to live, work and visit? 

As a Police Officer with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, you will work across an increasingly diverse community and face an ever-changing criminal landscape. 

We are recruiting for both Police and Detective Constable pathways. You can choose your desired entry route and we will support you with this as you progress with your application and start in post.

Save thousands on tuition fees and earn while you learn, with no student loans to repay. The PCDA is a three year programme for those who wish to attain a Level 6 BSc degree in Professional Policing Practice, while training to become a police officer or detective making a difference to Hampshire & Isle of Wight communities

What is the difference between a Police Constable and a Detective Constable?  

Whilst these two roles work hand in hand and both respond to victims of crime, Police Constables are at the forefront of the prevention and detection of crime, keeping communities safe and acting on emergency calls, whereas Detective Constables focus on the investigation of serious and complex crime which impacts the victims and communities.  

Both roles play a key part in responding to crime, keeping communities safe and delivering exceptional, local policing. 

Career Opportunities

As a Police Officer, once you have completed your Police training, you can choose to specialise in a particular area of Police work.

Police Constable opportunities include Criminal Investigation Department (CID), anti-fraud or road traffic, Firearms, Dog-Handling and Counter-Terrorism.

Detective Constable opportunities include Major Crime and Murder Investigations, Child Abuse Investigation, Economic Crime, Rape and Serious Sexual Offences.

With experience, you will also be able to apply for promotion to Sergeant, Inspector or Chief Inspector as your career progresses.

About the Role

As a Police Officer in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, you will work across an ever-changing criminal landscape. You’ll be part of an increasingly diverse workforce, and develop the skills and knowledge to deal with new and emerging types of crime. You will play a critical front-line role of the prevention and detection of crime and the criminal justice system. It’s a role that offers job stability and huge day to day variety. It’s a tough but rewarding job and we’ll work hard to ensure we give you the genuine support you need to succeed. 

Ensuring our staff and officers are supported at all times is important to us and although policing is tough it is very rewarding, and we will give you all the support you need to succeed.

As part of the role of a Police Officer, you could find yourself:

• Supporting victims and witnesses of domestic abuse.
• Acting on emergency calls.
• Investigating reported crimes.
• Apprehending, arresting and interviewing suspects.
• Collecting evidence at crime scenes.
• Dealing with accidents and incidents.
• Engaging with children and young people to change perceptions of the police.
• Working with emergency service colleagues from Ambulance, Fire and Rescue.

Training

All new recruits will undertake our elite training programme where you will become a Police Officer from day one.

You'll receive world-class training and mentoring, which will see you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be able to:

• Ensure public order and safety while supporting major police operations
• Put victims first whilst responding to and investigating crime
• Deliver exceptional local policing
• Apply investigative skills and intelligence to solving crimes
• Deliver national policing objectives at a community level

Salary and Benefits

Your starting full time salary will be £31,907 including £2,000 South East allowance, plus other allowances and benefits.

You will have the opportunity to earn over £48,000 after seven years as a Police Officer. 

In addition to the competitive salary and highly rewarding career, our benefits include, but are not limited to;

• Competitive pension scheme; 
• Generous annual leave allowance; 
• Retail, food and leisure discounts through Hampshire Police Leisure & Sports and Blue Light Card; 
• Excellent wellbeing support; 
• Gym facilities at several of our buildings; 
• Fantastic career progression including development and secondment opportunities. 
• A rewarding job where no two days are the same 
• Feeling valued in your community 
• Training and development opportunities throughout your career 
• Wellbeing support and advice, for professional and personal matters including an employee assistance programme, physiotherapy and an in-house occupational health service

• Access to supportive and active staff groups, networks and associations including: 

• • Mental and emotional wellbeing support 
  • Age Network 
  • BEAM Network 
  • Christian Police Association (CPA) 
  • Hampshire Association of Muslim Police 
  • LGBT+ Network 
  • Inspire 
  • Men's Forum 
  • Trauma & PTSD Support   
  • Menopause Support

About You

We want you for the person you are, the work and life experience you have and the skills you can bring to the organisation. 

We need people who:  

• Can cope under pressure and never give up
• Can negotiate and deal with sensitive situations
• Can work both independently and as part of a team
• Have excellent communication skills
• Are able to solve problems
• Can write concise reports or other documents
• Can make logical, confident decisions
• Have great leadership skills, you will be able to lead by example and seek advice when needed
• Can develop and maintain resilience

Apply today to start your career with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and make a difference to your life, career and community.

We have entry routes that will allow you to become a Police Constable or a Detective Constable.

Which entry route should I choose?

We have four entry routes you can choose from, all offering entry for Police Constable and Detective Constable. Each entry route has different eligibility requirements, which will be outlined in the respective adverts.

Our Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP), is a 2 year programme where you earn as you learn, gaining a Level 6 Post-Graduate diploma in Professional Policing Practice. It is specifically for those with any degree or equivalent qualifications.

Our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), is a 3 year programme where you will earn as you learn, gaining a (BSc) Hons degree in Professional Policing Practice fully funded by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.

Policing PLUS is a 2 year programme. Whilst you will not gain a qualification as part of this, you will receive the training to equip you with the skills needed to meet the complex policing challenges faced today whilst contributing to a positive policing culture.

Policing PLUS Graduate is our Policing PLUS programme which is specifically for those with a Level 6 qualification, which upon completion, will offer access to career development opportunities such as fast-track PC to Inspector Programme.

Entry Criteria for Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

To be considered for entry to the PCDA, applicants should hold, and be able to evidence;

• 1 A level at grade A* - C AND 1 A level grade A – E,  or level 3 equivalent with a minimum overall value of 48 UCAS points. 

The second (A-E)  level 3 qualification, if sufficient grade, can be an AS level in a different subject from the A level (A* - C), a level 3 BTEC, or a combination of these qualifications so  long as they total at least 48 UCAS points.

The UCAS calculator allows you to enter the qualification to review if the qualifications meet the minimum 48 UCAS Tariff Points).

• Applicants will also need to have achieved Maths and English GCSE grade C/4 or above (or an acceptable equivalent Level 2 qualification) at the point of application.

Applicants without level 3 qualifications but with the required Math and English qualifications can be considered if:

• You have served for a minimum of 2 years in the last 5 years as a PCSO, Special, Detention Officer or PSI in a Home Office force and have an exemplary reference.

       or

• You have gained a Certificate in Knowledge of Policing

      or

• You have previously served in the military or armed forces, National Crime Agency (NCA) or the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and have successfully completed the minimum term of service and have an exemplary reference (previous service in military or armed forces is a minimum of 2 years within the last 5 years)

       or

• Candidates who believe they have current experience equivalent to a level 3 qualification and feel they could take on the challenge of degree level study alongside working as a police officer will be assessed on a case by case basis.

You must also hold a full manual driving licence upon application.

Location of Work

As a Police Officer you could be “posted” (required to work) anywhere within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You must be willing and able to travel to a work base in these locations. During initial training, you will be based at one of our training venues which is a minimum of 18 weeks with further training and tutoring in other locations continuing from this. Please note accommodation is not provided at our training venues, there is support with travel. The place of work you will be posted to after you have completed your training, will not be confirmed to you until the start of the training process.

Positive Action

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary recognises that being representative of all the communities we serve will help us to deliver a more effective operational policing service.  We, therefore, welcome and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds. 

To ensure every potential candidate has an equal opportunity, we offer support and guidance from the start. Whether you are just thinking about a role within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary or have already applied, our Positive Action Team can assist you. For more information please email: positive.action@hamphire.police.uk

Contact details for an informal discussion

Please contact the Recruitment Team at police.recruitment@hampshire.police.uk or call 023 8045 1611.