Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP)
A Direct Route into Investigation
The Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP) is designed for people who are analytical, curious and motivated by solving complex problems.
This specialist entry route provides the training, support and operational experience required to become both a Police Constable and a Detective Constable.
Over approximately two and a half years +, you'll develop the skills required to investigate serious and complex crime while building the foundations of a successful investigative career.
Is DCEP Right for You?
We're looking for individuals who:
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Think critically and objectively
- Pay close attention to detail
- Have strong communication skills
- Can make effective decisions under pressure
- Demonstrate integrity and professionalism
Detective work requires perseverance, resilience and a genuine commitment to seeking the truth.
What You'll Learn
The programme combines operational policing with investigative learning.
You'll develop skills in:
- Criminal investigations
- Interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects
- Evidence gathering and case building
- Intelligence development
- Decision-making and risk management
- Managing serious and complex investigations
- Victim-focused investigations
Your Learning Journey
During your probationary period you'll complete:
Initial Police Officer Training
You'll first develop the core knowledge and operational skills required of all police officers, including:
- Law and procedure
- Frontline policing
- Incident response
- Officer safety training
- Community engagement
Investigative Development
As the programme progresses, you'll begin focusing more heavily on investigative work, gaining experience of:
- Criminal investigation processes
- Serious crime investigations
- Case preparation
- Multi-agency working
What Does a Detective Do?
Detectives investigate more serious and complex offences, including:
- Domestic abuse
- Serious violence
- Fraud and financial crime
- Child protection investigations
- Organised crime
- Sexual offences
- County lines activity
Detectives work closely with victims, witnesses, forensic specialists and partner agencies to build evidence and pursue justice.
Assessment
Throughout the programme you'll complete a variety of assessments including:
- Roleplay exercises
- Knowledge checks
- Professional discussions
- Portfolio evidence
- Tutor observations
- Problem-solving activities
Operational assessments will also be completed to demonstrate:
- Independent Patrol Status
- Full operational competence
- Readiness for confirmation in rank
Support and Development
You'll receive support throughout your journey through:
- Tutor constables
- Detective mentors
- Dedicated supervisors
- Coaching sessions
- Development review meetings
- Individual learning plans
Becoming a Detective
Following successful completion of your probation, you'll be posted into an investigation's role.
You'll then be supported to:
- Prepare for and pass the National Investigators' Examination (NIE)
- Complete the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP2)
- Achieve full Detective Constable accreditation
Future Detective Career Paths
As an accredited detective, opportunities may exist within:
- Criminal Investigations Department (CID)
- Public Protection Unit (PPU)
- Centralised Crime (Major Incident/Serious Organised Crime/Priority Crime/Economic Crime)
- Centralised Public Protection Unit (Online Child Abuse/Unity/Child Sexual Exploitation)
- Intelligence
- Serious Collision Investigation
- Counter Terrorism
- Professional Standards / Anti-Corruption
- Academy Crime Training
- Civil Litigation
- Regional Specialist Units (NWROCU)
A detective career is challenging, demanding and rewarding, offering the opportunity to make a lasting difference to victims and communities across Merseyside.
Read more about the Investigation Career Pathway at the College of Policing
Investigation career pathway | College of Policing
Unlike DC DHEP, DCEP is a non-accredited pathway into policing that is designed for candidates with or without an undergraduate degree. No academic award is granted at the end of the programme, instead the training combines practical “on-the-job” experience, classroom sessions, scenario-based training, virtual learning, and assessments, which will equip you with the skills and experience you need to meet the demands of modern policing.
As well as a starting salary of £32,256.00 a year - potentially rising to £52,017.00 within your first seven years – you can also expect:
- 22 days annual leave entitlement, rising in line with length of service
- Police Pension Scheme membership
- Lifestyle benefits, such as a range of sports clubs and on-site gym facilities, Blue Light discount scheme with dozens of online and high street brands
- Continuing professional development and career progression opportunities
To apply, you need to:
- Be over the age of 17 – although we will be happy to take your application, you will not be offered an intake date which starts prior to your 18th birthday (please bear this in mind when applying as this could make your application process quite long).
- You must be a UK, EU citizen with EU settled status, a commonwealth citizen or a foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the UK.
- Resident in the UK for the last 3 years (except for UK military or HM Government personnel working overseas).
- Have Level 2 English and Maths qualifications.
- Have not had a Police Officer application rejected by ourselves, or another Force, in the last 3 months.
- Not be a member of an extreme political organisation such as BNP, Nation Front or Combat 18.
- Not have any tattoos (irrespective of what they are) on the face or neck that are visible above the collar line or below the cuff line.
- Not have any tattoos that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or lewd in nature irrespective of placement on the body.
- Not have any charge or summons currently outstanding against you.
- Have not been sentenced to a custodial sentence.
- Not been registered as a sex offender.
- Not be currently registered as bankrupt.
- Have a UK Manual driving licence.
We hold our officers and staff to rigorous standards of behaviour and conduct, and so the process between submitting an application and joining isn’t a quick one.
The different stages of the application process are:
- Basic eligibility check
- Application form submission
- National sift
- Online assessment -
- Competency-based video interview
- Written exercise and briefing exercise
- Invitation to interview
- Pre employment checks -
- Fitness
- Medical
- Vetting
- Biometric
- Final reference checks
- Final offer confirming start date
We know the application process can be long, but it’s essential we do everything in our power to only employ the staff and officers our Merseyside communities deserve.
To help make Merseyside Police representative of the communities we serve, we have a dedicated Inclusion team who provide support and guidance throughout the recruitment application process to candidates from underrepresented groups. You can learn more about the support available here.
Click here to view our current vacancies, Search Jobs - Merseyside Police Careers.
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