Apply to be a Police Constable

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Due to the high number of applications we have received, our police officer recruitment window has now closed.

Nothing beats a career here.

Our Police Constables are our face and voice in the community. They’re on the ground, speaking to victims, preventing crime and making a real difference. They come from different walks of life, but are united by the same goal – to keep communities safe.

We’re looking for people who reflect the communities we serve, people who can bring diversity of experience, people who are willing to protect our streets. It’s not always easy, some days will be tougher than others, but the sense of pride makes it worth every second.

You won’t just be building better communities, you’ll be building a career that counts. From intelligence to armed policing, whatever your background, wherever you want to take your career, however you want to specialise, we’ll help you find your beat.

Meet Neelam who is one of our Sikh officers in the Community Engagement Unit, and Dylan who is a local policing officer, as they share their experience of joining Merseyside Police.

Our student officer entry programme – the new way to become a police officer

Merseyside Police currently offer two different entry routes which are tailored depending on your experience and level of education.

Both entry routes operate on a ‘earn as you learn’ basis which means that you will be a paid police constable from your first day of training, gaining on-the-job experience whilst studying for your qualification. The force will also pay your tuition fees, so for you that means no academic fees and no student loans.

All academic learning will be provided by Liverpool John Moores University and Merseyside Police staff. You will be provided with student support processes such as coaching/mentoring, one to one meetings, development surgeries both within the classroom and work based phases of each programme to assist in your development

Take a look at your two different options and decide which one is right for you:

PCDA – the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship

This is our main entry route onto our student officer programme, where you will train as a probationary police officer whilst completing a 3 year apprenticeship. Upon completion, you graduate as a Merseyside Police Officer and be awarded a BSc (Hons) Degree in Professional Policing Practice.

Find out more by clicking on the drop down options below:

To be eligible for this apprenticeship route, you need to have achieved a Level 2 qualification in Maths and English A*-C or 4-9 or equivalent.

The minimum age that you can apply to join Merseyside Police is 17, though you'll need to wait until you're 18 before you can officially become a police officer.

In order to study for your degree as well as completing the practical training you will be given protected academic learning time.

This course will be delivered by Subject Matter Experts and experienced practitioners with a wealth of professional and subject expertise supported by a network of relevant subject specialists to prepare you with key transferable skills required for the role of Police Constable.

Your learning will be a mixture of face to face, remote and digital learning inputs with access to both Merseyside Police and Liverpool John Moores University learning platforms. Such inputs will be delivered via a mixture of attendance at Academy premises at Mather Avenue, in the workplace at your designated operational police station or upon occasion by studying from home.

Assessment methods will assess your knowledge, understanding, skills, attitude and behaviour and will include: Written exams; Essays; Reflective Accounts; Work-based portfolio of work activity; Academic Posters; Practical role-play exercises; Tutor observation in the workplace; testimony from experienced colleagues; Case Study exercises; Professional Discussions; evidence based police research project; question and answer activities. There will also be assessment of your competence in relation to 1^st Aid and Personal Safety.

The PCDA entry route will be a mixture of classroom and operational learning phases.

Classroom Based Learning - each phase 10 weeks (year 1) / 4 weeks (years 2 and 3)

Tutor Period (operational learning) - 12 weeks (year 1)

Students get 4 weeks leave each year. In the first year, these weeks will be fixed within the programme. (2 x 1 week and 1 x 2 weeks).

In year 2 and 3, you will be able to book time off but just not time during the fixed classroom based learning phases of the programme.

We are proud to offer a competitive starting salary of £24,177 which will rise to around £30,000 within 5 years.
Annual leave entitlement is 22 days per year rising to 30 days depending on length of service Occupational Health provider at HQ
Range of Sports Clubs
On site gym facilities
Wellbeing and mindfulness sessions
Blue Light Card Discount
Member of the police pension scheme
Continuing Professional Development
Career Progression

Once you have passed the probationary period you will have the opportunity to progress through the ranks and/or specialise in an area of policing that interests you most, dependent on the vacancies available in the force.

In choosing to partner with LJMU on this important work, Merseyside Police will be drawing on the expertise of the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies (LCAPS), established by LJMU in 2015. This centre has prospered since its inception and is now one of the largest policing centres in the UK. LCAPS contains a wealth of professional, practical and academic experience, situated in the heart of the city. LCAPS uses this experience to conduct research, for example, staff just completed an evaluation of fast track detective recruitment schemes on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council ongoing review of detective recruitment and retention. The centre also has a number of experienced and high profile former senior police officers from Merseyside Police, Cheshire Constabulary and Lancashire Constabulary who assist with training clients such as the International Cricket Council and the Royal Military Police.

Please note, we anticipate high levels of interest so recommend submitting your application as early as possible as it may be necessary to close the recruitment window early.

If you would like more information available about this PCDA entry route, please visit our FAQ page here.

DHEP – Degree Holder Entry Route onto our student officer programme.

Please note – DHEP is currently closed as we are oversubscribed. Please sign up for email alerts by clicking here and we’ll let you know when DHEP entry route reopens.

This is a two year programme where you will complete a Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice. You will be a ‘probationary’ police officer for 2 years and upon completion, you graduate as a Merseyside Police Officer and achieve a diploma in Professional Policing Practice.

To be eligible to apply for this entry route, you will need to currently hold a degree-level qualification in any subject area, third class and above.