Graduate Detective Programme (GDP)

In the 2 year detective graduate scheme, 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. And, 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.

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.

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. To thrive in an investigative role you’ll need flexibility, tenacity and the mindset to question ‘why’ something has happened.

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 throughout the graduate detective scheme.

No, the academic costs of this degree are covered by Northumbria Police.

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.

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.

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.