Police officers (sergeant and below) — SOC 2020 3312
Police officers (sergeant and below) co-ordinate and undertake the investigation of crimes, patrol public areas, arrest offenders and suspects and enforce law and order. Officers of the British Transport Police operate within the specialised police service for the railway network across britain.
Also calledPolice constableFingerprint officerFingerprint examinerOfficerCommunity beat managerPolicemanand 29 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
51%hold a degree
31%women
Age of police officers
Age profile of police officers
n/p
35%
26%
25%
4.5%!
n/p
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
Not published
25–34
35%
35–44
26%
45–54
25%
55–64
4.5% (small sample)
65+
Not published
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by police officers
Degree or equivalent51%
Higher education below degree6.7%
A levels or equivalent27%
GCSEs or equivalent13%
Other qualifications!2%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
51%
Higher education below degree
6.7%
A levels or equivalent
27%
GCSEs or equivalent
13%
Other qualifications
2% (small sample)
No qualifications
Not published
Main employers: public order and safety activities (93%), general public administration activities (1.5%), hospital activities (1.2%), defence activities (0.9%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
51%
as their highest qualification
Registration
College of Policing
required for some roles: College of Policing
Apprenticeships
2
from level 4, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
2 to 3 years
typically
Routes in
Police officer
You can get into this job through:
University
You can do a degree in any subject then apply for a place on one of the police entry programmes, such as:
Degree Holder Entry Programme
National Graduate Leadership Programme
Alternatively, you can complete a 3-year Professional Policing degree at a participating university.
You are not guaranteed a job at the end of the course. Instead, you have to apply for police constable roles within 5 years of completing this degree.
If you want to train to be a detective, you can apply for a place on the 2-year National Detective Programme (NDP).
You will need a degree and at least 2 A levels or equivalent qualifications to apply for the NDP.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could do a college course to prepare for a direct application for police officer training or a degree apprenticeship, though this is not essential.
Courses include:
uniformed protective services
public services
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Police Constable Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. It's a 3-year work-based programme that leads to a degree in Professional Policing Practice.
If you want to work in non-emergency response situations you could apply for a place on a Serious and Complex Crime Investigator Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This can lead to work with police forces and organisations like:
the National Crime Agency
HM Revenue and Customs
the Ministry of Defence
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Apply directly
You can apply directly for the 2-year Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).
You can also apply for a place on the Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP), if you want to train as a detective.
You'll usually need GCSEs in English and maths and 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent qualifications for these programmes. Relevant experience can also be taken into account. This might be from:
the armed forces
work as a police community support officer (PCSO)
other emergency services
Border Force or the prison service
You can search for forces that are recruiting for the PCEP and DCEP.
If your initial application is successful, you'll be invited to an assessment centre where you'll take written tests and have an interview.
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could get paid work as a police community support officer (PCSO) before applying for police officer training.
Volunteering
You can get a taste of what it's like to work with the police by volunteering as a special constable.
Other routes
If you're a former police officer, you could return to policing by contacting a participating force for details about their rejoiner scheme.
What you’ll need
pass enhanced background checks
be over 18 years of age
pass a fitness test
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
If you're aged 13 to 18 you could become a police cadet. The skills you learn and experiences you gain will benefit you whatever career path you choose.
Further information
You can find information on routes into policing from Joining the Police.
You'll need to contact your local police force to apply, as each force has its own recruitment rules.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for police officer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Fingerprint officer
You can get into this job through:
University
You could study for a relevant degree before applying for a job as a trainee fingerprint officer. Subjects include:
forensic science
criminology
applied science
chemistry
biology
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apply directly
You can apply directly to a police force to join as a trainee fingerprint officer.
Each force sets its own entry requirements but you'll usually need one or more of the following:
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including maths, English and a science subject
a minimum of 2 A levels or equivalent qualifications
experience of working in the police service
As part of the process, police forces will carry out checks into your background and employment history. This might also include checks on your close family members.
What you’ll need
pass security checks
pass enhanced background checks
You'll usually need a driving licence.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
Some knowledge of forensic and photographic techniques is helpful, though not essential.
Further information
Check with your local police force for details of vacancies and entry requirements.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for fingerprint officer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Apprenticeships
2 for this job
Level 4About 2 years
Non home office police officer
Employers may ask for
Whilst any entry requirements will be a matter for individual agencies and forces, typically an apprentice will be required to meet security vetting…
BSC/ BA (Hons) degree in Professional Policing Practice
Registration
College of Policing
Employers may ask for
These will vary from force to force. A PC will be 18 or older, and is typically likely to have achieved a Level 3 qualification (or equivalent). Formal…
receives instructions from senior officers and patrols an assigned area on foot, horseback, motorcycle, motor car or boat to check security and enforce regulations
directs and controls traffic or crowds at demonstrations and large public events
investigates complaints, crimes, accidents, any suspicious activities or other incidents
interviews suspects, takes statements from witnesses and stops, searches and/or arrests suspects
attends accidents
prepares briefs or reports for senior officers
works on station reception desk and or in communications room
gives evidence in court cases
Skills
apply first response
comply with legal regulations
comply with the principles of self-defence
detain offenders
ensure compliance with types of weapons
ensure law application
handle evidence
identify security threats
instruct public
patrol areas
use different communication channels
analyse legal evidence
analyse road traffic patterns
anticipate foreseeable problems on the road
Knowledge
first response
law enforcement
legal use-of-force
road traffic laws
diving operation requirements
illegal substances
investigation research methods
Suits people who like
Organising and following procedures
Practical, hands-on work
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for protective service occupations, a group of 5 jobs that includes police officers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 36%about 144,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035313,000including people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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