Police constable

Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)

Duration – two years
Starting salary – £31,164 (plus £1,500 South Eastern Allowance)
This programme is guided as a Level 5 learning opportunity and written English is a key requirement for success with this route alongside assessments and assignments.

The Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) is a new entry route for joining the police which provides an excellent opportunity to be employed as a police officer from day one on a two year training programme.

This programme is focused on developing policing skills with key models and theories used routinely within a policing environment.

PCEP is a two-year learning programme with a 20 week initial phase of learning and four returning weeks in year two further developing your understanding about key topics such as leadership, inclusion, investigation skills and public protection.

As an Officer, you will also attend Personal Safety Training and of course, there are a wide range of ICT systems to learn about.

Your knowledge and skills will be assessed throughout this period using a variety of techniques including exam, presentations, short essays and a full work-based occupational competency portfolio.

Our training teams understand that you may not yet know very much about policing. No assumptions are made, and each student officer is offered coaching to achieve the requirements in a very tailored way.

We also have lots of experience if you need any workplace adjustments – everyone is screened for Dyslexia and given personal feedback as necessary.

Out on patrol, you will be coached and mentored by trained tutor constables who will support you to achieve a “safe and lawful” standard of practice. Once you achieve Independent Patrol Status, you will a fully deployable resource attending jobs by yourself

You will be welcomed, whatever your background, and supported throughout the programme by our friendly teams.

Entry requirements

GCSE in English Language at a minimum of grade C or 4 (or equivalent qualification, such as level 2 functional skills in English) certificates or statement of results to be given at the point of application

Applicants must hold a full UK manual driving licence at the time of application. This is a mandatory requirement for all Police Officers.

At Bedfordshire Police, we are committed to supporting our workforce while ensuring we can meet the operational needs of the communities we serve. Our policy sets out a clear expectation that officers should live within one hour’s commute of either Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Kempston, or Luton Police Station.

We recognise, however, that individual circumstances can vary. Where an officer or applicant lives beyond this one-hour commuting time, there is a formal process through which an exception can be requested. Please notify the recruitment team as soon as possible and any such request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will require sign-off through the appropriate approval route.

We are unable to accept applications without these main entry requirements.

Benefits of this route

A starting salary of £31,164 (plus £1,500 South Eastern Allowance), working full-time (40 hours per week).

As a police constable, you’ll be eligible to receive annual increments up to a salary of £50,256.

You’ll enjoy the advantages of a contributory pension scheme, which offers generous benefits based on average earnings. You’ll start with 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days, dependent on your length of service.

You could play your part in continuing to build the standards, practices and reputation of policing for the better!

Programme information

Your training will begin with a 20 week initial learning phase, attending one of our training centres in Dunstable.

You will learn a wide range of policing skills including Personal Safety Training, emergency life support, safeguarding, crime investigation, operational policing skills, and there are a wide range of ICT systems to learn about.

Our training teams understand that you may not yet know very much about policing. No assumptions are made, and each student officer is offered coaching to achieve the requirements in a very tailored way.

We also have lots of experience if you need any workplace adjustments – everyone will be screened for Dyslexia and given personal feedback as necessary.

You will then move to your designated policing area in Bedfordshire and join a team working alongside experienced police officers.

Out on patrol, you will be coached and mentored by trained tutor constables who will support you to achieve a “safe and lawful” standard of practice, before being signed off as fit for Independent Patrol Status, meaning you can patrol alone.

In year two, there will be four more weeks of training to further develop your understanding about key topics such as leadership, inclusion, investigation skills and public protection.

Throughout your training you’ll undertake work-based learning and you will be fully supported as you apply new skills and knowledge as part of your operational duties.

You’ll be immersed in day-to-day policing. This will help you understand the context of what you learn, enabling you to develop the skills and experience needed for this challenging role, as you actively contribute to reducing crime and harm in the communities of Bedfordshire.

Core programme modules include –

Personal safety techniques
Policing, police law and police power
Protection, Vulnerability and Operational Policing
Policing Communities
Response and Crime Investigation
Understanding Vulnerability
Specialist Skills
Police Code of Ethics
Criminal Law
Police Procedure
Statement taking and writing
First aid
Interviewing
Police systems
Evidence based policing
Problem solving
National decision model
Search techniques
Wellbeing
Mental health
Domestic abuse
Stalking and harassment

Throughout the course you will need to successfully complete operational assessments to test the skills, knowledge and qualities required to be an officer.

Your knowledge and skills will be assessed throughout the programme using a variety of techniques including exam, presentations and short essays.

You will also need to compile a work-based Operational Competency Portfolio and pass operational assessments of a range of critical policing skills, including – providing effective initial response to a critical incident, engaging proactively with communities, conducting effective evaluation of intelligence, and providing support to vulnerable people, victims and witnesses.

Once you have successfully completed your two year probation, you will be able to consider further opportunities of progression and specialism within our force.

Join us!

As a Bedfordshire police officer, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a truly fulfilling career and work your way up the ranks.

Join us and make a genuine, positive difference to people from all walks of life.

Please note: This role has been identified as high-risk in relation to potential DNA and fingerprint contamination within forensic processes. As such, successful candidates will be required to provide a DNA and fingerprint elimination sample as part of their pre-employment checks.

The sample will be used to conduct a speculative search against our database and then solely for contamination elimination purposes and held on a secure elimination database in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

Provision of this sample is a condition of employment for roles identified as high-risk.

This advert is due to close on 30th September 2026 at 23:55pm

For more information on the Competency Values Framework (CVF) please click HERE
Help us deliver outstanding policing for everyone.
We believe that to serve our communities effectively, we need people from all backgrounds, bringing a wide range of life and professional experiences. This helps us reflect the communities we serve and ensures we deliver the best possible service.

Why Choose a Career in Policing?
Bedfordshire Police is recognised as a pioneering and forward-thinking service, responsible for policing a large, diverse, and multicultural population.

If you’re looking for a meaningful and rewarding career—where you can make a real difference, take on new challenges, and gain a wide variety of experiences—then we want to hear from you.

What We Offer
We’re proud to support our people with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

Pension Schemes: Access to the Police Pension Scheme, with employer contributions and death-in-service benefits.
Generous Annual Leave: 25 to 30 days (depending on rank and length of service).
Sick Pay: Up to six months full pay and six months half pay (depending on service).
Family Leave: Occupational maternity, adoption, and paternity pay (depending on service).
Carers and Discretionary Leave
Flexible Working: Including compressed hours, flexible shifts, job sharing, annualised hours, and agile working (role dependent).
Wellbeing Support: Local wellbeing teams, on-site gym facilities and exercise classes (location dependent).
Sports & Social Clubs: Enjoy discounts, trips, and events through our dedicated clubs.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Blue Light Card App: Option to sign up for discounts in-store and online for emergency service workers.
Financial Support: Access to Police Mutual for savings plans, insurance, loans, and independent financial advice.
Employee Assistance Programme: Confidential support for personal and professional wellbeing.
Staff Support Networks: Including groups for Black and Minority Ethnic colleagues, LGBTQ+ colleagues, disability awareness, menopause support, faith-based groups, and more.
Access to Federation/Supts Association/COPSA (rank dependant).
Career Development: Opportunities for progression, promotion, and continuous improvement training.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to building a workforce that is inclusive and truly representative of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially those currently under-represented in policing, including:

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities
People of all ages and abilities
All faiths and religions
LGBTQ+ communities
Individuals from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds
All applications are assessed fairly and based on the evidence you provide and your suitability for the role.