CHANGE
CAN REBUILD
TRUST
CHANGE NEEDS YOU
Becoming a Detective Constable
with the Met
We know that the people of London want more crimes solved and more criminals brought to justice. To do that we need people like you to join us. Our detective constables investigate, analyse evidence and uncover the truth.
What it’s like day to day
Become a detective constable (DC) and you’ll support victims of crime when they need your help the most. You could be safeguarding a child or vulnerable adult, tracing someone who’s missing or tackling those criminals that cause communities the most harm. Every day is different, and every day matters.
How to apply?
You’ll apply to join our Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP). You need a recognised degree to begin this programme, which blends classroom learning with learning ‘on the job’ within our investigation teams across London. It’s a two year programme that counts as your probation.
Don’t have a degree? Consider applying through the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship. You will study for a fully funded BSc Hons degree in professional policing practice over three years, earning as you learn. Complete the programme and you’ll graduate with a recognised degree, along with plenty of valuable experience.
Who we look for
Would you make a good police officer? One good way to decide is to read our values and see if they sound like you.
These values define how we will behave and serve:
Integrity
I will always try to do the right thing. I will be fair and consistent in everything I do, being mindful of the impact of my actions. I will actively challenge those whose behaviour falls below public and the Met’s expectations.
Courage
I will show courage by making tough decisions when needed. I will always challenge racist, homophobic, misogynistic and any other discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour. I will show humility.
Accountable
I will strive to build trust with the public, colleagues, and partners, by being open, honest and taking ownership for what I have done and why. I will admit when I make mistakes, learn from them and improve.
Respect
I will respect the rights of everyone I meet. I will listen to individual perspectives and needs. I will try my best to understand a diverse range of views and achieve the best possible outcomes for the public.
Empathy
I will care about communities and colleagues and try to understand their perspectives and experiences, at all times. I will be kind and listen and understand without judgement. I will take time to clarify and explain my decisions.
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Other qualifications
- The minimum academic qualifications to join us as a detective is a degree (Level 6) qualification.
- You must be between 18 and 57 to join us (but you can apply when you are 17)
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Your health and fitness
Policing isn’t easy, and although you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to join you do need to be relatively fit and healthy to cope with the demands of the job.
- You will need to pass a fitness test. Start preparing now by watching our YouTube video for tips and download the Met’s six-week training programme. Or find out more on the College of Policing website.
- Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job. Find out which here: HM government medical standards
- You must meet the police eyesight standards. Your eyesight is tested as part of your medical, which takes place during the application process.
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Other things to be aware of
- If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years (unless you have been serving abroad in the British Armed Forces).
- If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain.
- You can apply to join more than one police force at once, but you can only start the online assessment in the recruitment process with one force.
- If you have tattoos you’ll need to tell us about it when you apply. We have a tattoo policy that you’ll need to meet. You can’t join with tattoos that are on your face, or the sides and front of your neck above the collar line. We must also be confident that your tattoos aren’t offensive, violent, discriminatory, political or rude. See the full tattoo policy
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Vetting
Working for the Met means holding a position of trust. Vetting checks are an important way to maintain our high standards and reassure Londoners that appropriate checks are done.
We’ll check your:
- Criminal, intelligence and national security records
- Public records
- Credit agency records (in some cases)
- Social media presence
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Cautions or criminal convictions
Having a previous caution or conviction doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from applying, but please be as open and honest as possible. If you hide anything from us or are dishonest in your application, you will be rejected.
Any information we gather in the vetting process is confidential and kept separate from your other recruitment data. We try to be as open and fair as possible during this process.
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Reasons you can’t join
- If you have unpaid debts or liabilities, an outstanding county court judgement, or you can’t manage loans or debts sensibly.
- If you are or have been a member of organisations like the British National Party (BNP), Combat 18 or the National Front. This isn’t a full list.
- If you use illegal drugs. You’ll have to pass a substance misuse tests before you can join us.
Applying to become a Detective Constable
The entire process of becoming a Detective Constable can take up to six months.
It’s an important job and we can’t rush the process.
But if you’re successful you’ll be beginning a career that could change your life
– and the lives of Londoners everywhere.
At each stage of your application you’ll be contacted by our recruitment team.
They’ll give you information and support, to help you be your best.
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Step 1: Online registration form and application
First you’ll need to complete and submit an online registration form and application form, to make sure you pass our basic eligibility criteria.
When we get your application we will conduct a basic security check. This takes around seven days.
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Step 2: Behavioural skills questionnaire
This is a short, online assessment designed to check if you have the key behaviours and values we look for in our police constables. We usually get back to you after around two weeks.
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Step 3: Your online assessment
The online assessment is made up of three exercises:
- Competency based interview: use examples from your work and personal life to answer a series of questions.
- Written assessment: complete an urgent written task whilst assuming the role of a police constable.
- Briefing exercise: read material and answer questions based on what you have read as if you were a police constable.
You should complete this stage within about three weeks of Step 1. You can expect your results within three weeks of completing the assessment.
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Step 4: Face to face Met detective assessment
We’ll invite you to our Met recruitment centre in South London for an assessment. You’ll complete four exercises, all designed to be a realistic picture of the work our detectives do.
The four exercises are:
- In-tray exercise: review a number of documents and write a summary report, highlighting your priorities and the actions you intend to take
- Briefing exercise: review a number of documents and then deliver a briefing to detective sergeant on the actions you recommend.
- Role play exercise: play the part of a detective constable in a typical policing scenario.
- Values-based interview: questions based on the Met values.
You can expect your results within four to eight weeks of taking your assessment, although each person is different.
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Step 5: Medical and fitness
You’ll also complete a medical and our fitness test in this stage (depending on availability you may be asked to complete this stage before Step 4).
Your medical health assessment will be carried out by a registered nurse at Gilmour House, where our Occupational Health team are based. This includes eyesight, hearing and blood pressure tests. At our nearby Assessment Centre we’ll take your biometrics and you’ll complete our fitness test.
You can get ready for this stage in advance. Watch our YouTube video for tips and download our six week training programme.
You can expect your results within four to eight weeks, depending on personal circumstances.
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Step 6: Pre-employment checks and vetting
These checks are there to make sure we are recruiting police officers who meet our standards of behaviour and share our values. The length of time this takes can vary. On average, it takes about two months for these checks to be completed.
You can find out more on the vetting process here.
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Step 7: Offer of employment
If you’re successful we’ll make you a formal offer of employment and discuss the best date for you to join. You’ll need to start your training within three months. We start new intakes every five weeks.
Our careers are open to members of every community. Take your place with us and be part of the change.