Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)

Start your policing career – practical, hands-on learning with no degree requirement.

Do you want a career like no other? To be part of a team working to reduce crime and engage with local communities? Join West Midlands Police as a Police Constable through our Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).

As a Police Officer, you’ll play a vital role in keeping communities safe, protecting the vulnerable, and maintaining law and order. No two days are the same – you could be making an arrest, supporting a domestic abuse victim, policing a major event, or responding to 999 calls. This is a rewarding and challenging career that allows you to make a real difference.

About the PCEP Programme

• Practical Route – A two-year work-based entry programme with a focus on on-the-job training.
• Initial Training 22 weeks at our Tally Ho! Training Centre, combining classroom learning and practical instruction.
• Frontline Experience, You’ll spend the majority of your probation working alongside experienced officers in operational roles.
• Ongoing support, mentoring and coaching ensure you develop into a fully competent Police Constable.
• Future Opportunities after probation, you can explore promotion and specialisms across the Force, including Firearms, Dogs, Roads Policing, Complex Investigations, and Drones.

Please note: This is not a direct Detective route. After completing initial training, you may apply to join the internal Detective Academy pathway.

What’s in it for you?

• Starting salary: £31,164, rising annually up to £50,256 within seven years.
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 after five years.
• Extensive benefits, including pension scheme, employee support, staff networks, and professional development opportunities. See our benefits website for more details.
• A career that matters, make a lasting impact on communities while developing your skills and future.

Who can apply?

You must have:

• Level 2 English (Grade C/4 or above) AND
• Level 3 qualification, 2 A-levels, or an equivalent qualification.
• OR 12 months relevant policing experience (e.g., Special Constables, PCSOs, PSI/PSIOs, Detention/Escort Officers, Force Contact).
• OR 18 months current military service in place of Level 3 qualification.

Only final certificates will be accepted, these must be uploaded with your application. Visit our careers website for more information about the qualifications required for different career routes.

Fitness, Medical & Vetting:

• Must meet the bleep test standard of 5.4.
• Must pass medical checks, which may include drug and fitness testing.
• Must pass our required vetting checks. See our Vetting FAQ for more information.

Residency & Nationality

• Lived in the UK for the past three years.
• Must be a British, Irish, or EEA national, or have the right to work in the UK without restrictions.

Application Process

• Our careers website provides a step by step breakdown of the application process.
• Training & Probation – A two-year programme combining classroom instruction with extensive frontline experience.
• Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)