Applications for our Graduate Detective Programme are now open.

The Graduate Detective Programme is a hands-on course, designed to help you start your career in policing as a detective.

This exciting programme is open to degree holders and final year students of any subject – including those who already hold a Professional Policing Degree.

You’ll deal with serious and complex investigations, changing crime trends, collecting evidence and bringing offenders to justice.

If you thrive on problem solving, you’re adaptable and have the communication skills to support victims, this may well be the job for you.

Interested to know more about the role and routes of entry? Sign up to an engagement event. You can attend one of these sessions before, during or after your application is submitted.

What’s involved in the Graduate Detective Programme?

In the 2 year programme, you’ll be trained in investigation techniques including interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects. Your day to day work could see you undertaking search warrants, making arrests or pushing a case through the courts. At the end of the scheme you’ll become a qualified detective without having to complete the standard two years of response officer training.

You’ll spend the first 16 weeks training at Northumbria University’s Coach Lane campus before spending the next 10 weeks at a designated police station. Here you’ll work alongside our uniformed response teams to understand the role of our front line officers. You’ll also complete a training module with one of our CID teams.

Am I eligible to join the programme?

You don’t need any previous policing knowledge or experience, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve never previously considered a career in policing, but you must have a degree in any discipline before you start the programme.

We also welcome applications from those who have already gained a Professional Policing Degree. This must be completed with a College of Policing approved provider.

Take a look at our general eligibility requirements for officers.

How much does the course cost? 

The academic costs of this programme are covered by Northumbria Police.

What will I earn?

While in training you’ll earn a salary of £26,682.

This will rise each year as you gain the relevant skills and experience, with the opportunity to earn up to £41,000 as a Detective Constable. For more information please visit our pay and benefits page.

What are the career opportunities?

Being a qualified detective opens so many doors to a varied career in policing. Once you’ve completed your two year training, you have the option to take up more specialist roles in safeguarding, homicide investigations or even covert policing.

What skills do I need? 

As a detective your mantra should be: ‘assume nothing, believe no-one and challenge everything’ – your decisions should be based on evidence, so you’ll need first-rate attention to detail to maintain an accurate record of the lines of enquiry.

It’s essential that you can work on your own, take responsibility for an investigation as well as working as part of a bigger team.

If you can bring these skills along with flexibility, tenacity and a mindset to question ‘why’ something has happened, you will thrive in an investigative role.

In return, you will be supported with the material to pass the exam,  and work in an inclusive and supportive team with access to specialists and advisors.

What about my wellbeing?

The role of a detective is a challenging one, and you can be dealing with upsetting crimes such as violent murders, victims of rape and sexual assaults. You will of course be given the support you need and there is always someone to seek advice from and to collaborate with.

We continue to invest in trained mental health first aiders onsite, an employee advice service offering 24/7 access to trained counsellors and a peer-led support programme.

What’s the role of a detective really like?

Hear from our serving detectives DS Gaye Martin and DC Julie Milne.