Durham Constabulary’s Police Constables recruitment process has commenced, application forms will now be accepted!
There will be two routes of application, PCDA – Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, or DHEP – Degree Holders Entry Programme. If successful we will make sure we will bring you in on the best entry route for you based on your education, skills & work experience.
Application Process
You must return the fully completed application form, and copies of certificates of any level 3 or above qualifications (only level 3 or equivalent certificates are required - please do not send GCSE’s or other qualification certificates that are not relevant). If required, please also return the Experiential Learning Form, this is only to be completed if your Level 3 qualification(s) do not equate to 120 UCAS points. If you have a valid Assessment Centre score from a previous SEARCH process within 24 months, then copies of pages 3 -5 of your report must also be included.
The submission deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 12th June 2020.
Qualification & Eligibility
To be eligible to apply applicants must possess the following qualifications / experience;
- 2 x A levels or an NVQ Level 3 qualifications is a minimum, and in order to enrol onto the PCDA programme with Northumbria University you must be able to evidence a total of 120 UCAS points or higher
Or
Experiential Learning – for some candidates their A level qualifications may not reach 120 UCAS points, therefore Professional training or significant work experience may also considered to be equal to the above and in this instance you MUST evidence your training/experience by completing and attaching the Experiential Learning Form below. Please ensure you provide as much detail as possible regarding your professional roles, responsibilities, work based training or activity that you believe to be relevant to this application.
Your Tariff Points can be made up of a number of different types of qualifications provided they are at the minimum level 3 requirement . Please utilise the UCAS calculation tool below to help you.
Calculator for UCAS Tariff Points
Durham Police will review a candidate’s professional training or work experience in line with the national Police Officers competency framework, if a candidate does not have the required UCAS points.
What if I have studied abroad?
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how it compares to the standard entry criteria, please review Northumbria Universities website in relation to international qualifications www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry. Also note you will be required to obtain a certified translation of qualifications if certificates are not issued in English.
Copies of all educational qualifications evidencing the above MUST be attached and submitted as part of your application. Please ensure you only send the relevant certificate as proof of the level 3 or above. We do need GCSE’s, level 2 qualifications, it must be level 3 or above.
As an alternative, you may apply if you are currently employed in one of the below specialist Police Staff roles (you will also need to complete the Experiential Learning Form).
2 years’ service as a Special Constable and also have attained Independent Patrol Status, performing minimum hours (16 hours per month average) at the time of application.
or
2 years’ service as a Community Support Officer designated under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 at the time of application.
or
2 years’ service in a police staff role which is considered by the chief officer to prepare a person for service as a member of a police force. In Durham these roles are;
· CET File Builder
· Detention Officer
· Call Handler / Dispatcher
· Investigative Officer
· CSI
· Front Counter Clerk
Tattoos
It is Durham Constabulary's Policy that if someone is applying for what is a public facing role and they have tattoos which can’t be covered by normal work clothes/standard uniform apparel, the practical effect is that they are likely to be prevented from passing the ‘paper sift’ at the application stage. Tattoos on face, neck, or hands (beyond the cuff) are not permitted. However some small tattoos around your wrist or to side of palm for instance may be permitted, but would be reviewed via an internal scrutiny panel. Photographs of tattoos in such areas would therefore need to be included as part of the application process (see application form for further details).
Driving Licence
Candidates must possess a full current Driving Licence at the point of application. This must be for a manually operated motor vehicle.
What Happens next?
The first stage following receipt of your application documents will be an initial sift, following which your responses to the competency based question section of your application will be assessed - will receive written notification confirming the outcome of both stages.
If successful you will then progress to the Online Assessment Process. This will include
1) Competency Based Video Interview
2) Written Exercise & Briefing Exercise.
An individual’s overall online assessment score will determine whether they will then proceed to the final interview stage of the recruitment process. Interviews will be held at Police Headquarters during August/September 2020.
Alternatively, if you have a valid Assessment Centre Score, dated within the last 24 months and with a pass mark of 50% or over overall and 50% in the working with others and 50% oral communication sections, you will not need to re-sit this stage, and should you pas the initial stage you will progress directly to the final interview stage. Should you have a valid score please also send pages 3 – 5 of your SEARCH assessment centre report with your application form.
Good luck
Candidate Journey – Online Assessment Process
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