Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
Detectives go by many names: suits, ‘tecs, occasionally Sherlock Holmes or some other famous fictional character with a cool hat or coat.
Our detectives are real people – they investigate our most serious crimes and protect some of our most vulnerable victims. If you want to be that support to a grieving family, get justice for the victims of sexual abuse, or track the trickiest of cyber criminals – this path could be for you.
If you’re already a detective with another force and want to find out more about transferring to the Essex Police family, you can read more on our transfer and promotion opportunities page.
If you’re just starting on your journey to being a detective, read more about Investigate First below.
We are offering an exciting opportunity to enter our Investigate First programme to become a Detective with Essex Police. This is a 2 year development programme with an expectation that full detective accreditation will be achieved following a work based assessment in year 3.
The first year of the programme requires successful candidates to develop core policing knowledge and skills in a uniform role before embarking on enhanced investigative training and specialist attachments to develop the investigative mindset.
After 12 months candidates move into the detective arena where they will develop enhanced investigative and safeguarding skills in more serious and complex investigations.
Throughout this period candidates will receive the highest level of training and support.
To succeed as a detective you will need to be inquisitive, determined, committed and tenacious. Detectives tackle the most serious levels of offending which demands the highest level of integrity and personal responsibility to be effective. Detective departments are enriched by officers from a range of different backgrounds to form a team.
Our detectives are driven by the motivation to keep people safe, act with integrity and honesty and they are guided by a high moral compass.
Our detectives fit the bill, could you?
Starting salary range is £28,812 to £29,682 (this includes £3,000 South East allowance). Your salary will increase in yearly increments up to £43,032 within seven years along with a number of other benefits.
Detectives are police officers who have achieved a national qualification and are responsible for investigating serious and complex crimes. They are responsible for managing a range of investigations which might include robbery, drugs, residential burglary, domestic violence, public and child protection, human trafficking and modern day slavery, fraud, cyber-crime, criminal use of firearms, homicide, threat to life or counter-terrorism and more.
Twelve months after appointment on this program you will be posted to an entry level detective post based in one of the following areas:
On successful conclusion of this program you will be eligible to apply for a specialist detective post. The following are some of those teams:
Further professional training is required when starting to work in any of these specialist units. It is possible to transfer to different units over the course of your career.
Could you compassionately support someone who has just been assaulted, lost a family member or robbed at knifepoint? How do you think you would cope when required to question a potential sex offender? How would you react when faced with a murderer who wants to tell you what they’ve done? Do you have mind-set to investigate serious crimes or locate the county’s most violent offenders? Could you investigate gang culture, drug supply, fraud or corruption?
As a detective you will be responsible for upholding the law, responding to live incidents and protecting people from harm using a range of sworn powers in line with organisational standards.
To be successful you will meet our minimum entry requirements, together with demonstrating a passion and commitment to providing a first class policing service to the people of Essex.
Please be aware that on appointment and during your service you may be posted to any location in Essex based on operational need.
To meet the minimum personal eligibility criteria, all of the 5 statements below must apply to you.
We want to ensure our new officers are prepared for the demands and challenges of modern day policing and have moved to a new educational route into policing - Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF).
As a new officer you will now gain a degree apprenticeship or graduate diploma whilst you complete your probation period with us.
There are three routes to join us depending on your qualifications, further information can be found under 'Entry routes' below.
If you are interested in a career with us, we are currently accepting transfer of successful SEARCH, National online assessment or day one results if obtained within the last 24 months.
If you meet this criteria, please attach your detailed results to your application (you can request these from the force you originally passed with) and declare this on your application form. If acceptable, we will transfer these results and you will not be required to undertake our online assessment stage.
Please note: This option is not applicable if your original application was unsuccessful within the past six months (not including voluntary withdrawal).
Policing is not easy. Not only do you need determination and drive but you also need to be as healthy as possible and have a good level of fitness.
Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job.
To find out more please view our health and fitness FAQs as well as the the HM Government medical standards information which provides full details on which illnesses, injuries and disorders will affect your ability to perform the role of a police officer.
In relation to your fitness if you undertake some form of regular exercise, there should be no issue with meeting the physical requirements in the fitness test. This means achieving level 5.4 on the 'bleep test'.
Find out more on the College of Policing website.
If you have a body piercing or other body modification you still may be considered eligible to apply.
We'll check it to make sure it doesn't breach the Standard of Professional Behaviour for serving police officers or constitute a risk to health and safety.
Ideally, you shouldn't have a criminal conviction or cautions record. If you do have one, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.
We're unable to confirm whether your convictions record will affect your application before you apply but will determine this from information provided during the recruitment and selection process.
If you don't tell us about any cautions, investigations or criminal convictions that may be linked to you at an early stage, your application could be refused simply because you weren't open and up front, whereas it might have been accepted if you were.
If in any doubt, disclose the information.
For more information please view the vetting guidance.
It's important that you're not under pressure from un-discharged debts or liabilities and that you can manage loans and debts sensibly.
You will not qualify for vetting clearance if you:
For more information please view the vetting guidance.
You will be required to undertake a substance misuse test as a part of the pre-employment checks in the recruitment process.
If you are using illegal drugs you will be ruled out of the recruitment process automatically.
Detectives receive a range of benefits including:
Visit police benefits and lifestyle information to find out more about the benefits of being a detective.
As a detective, you’ll be embarking on a new and exciting career that can take you anywhere.
During your first two years with the force, you’ll be working alongside experienced officers and putting your training into practice – dealing with everything from robbery and burglary to missing people and domestic incidents.
After completing your probationary period and becoming a full detective constable, we offer a range of training and continuing professional development opportunities to help make the most of the skills you have developed.
Providing you have achieved detective accreditation you will be eligible to apply for a specialist detective role after completing 36 months of service. The availability of these roles will be dependent on which units have vacancies but there are many potential career opportunities.
To find out more about the various departments you can work in with Essex Police, visit our job profiles.
To join the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP), you must:
All qualifications will have to be evidenced before a formal offer is issued.
To join the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), you will need to meet the eligibility criteria for becoming a police officer and pass the online assessment. See the College of Policing website for more information. You must also:-
If you do not hold these required qualifications, you can still apply if you possess one of the following qualifications and/or have the required experience. In this instance, you will be required to undergo additional assessments as part of our recruitment procedure. View further information about the support available in study skills assessment and education support.
Entry requirements PCDA
Relevant Experience
All qualifications will have to be evidenced before a formal offer is issued.
The Professional Policing Degree Holder programme is aimed at those who already have, or are in the final year of studying for, an undergraduate degree in Professional Policing. Applications must be made within five years of graduation.
If you choose this route you will also undertake academic and practice based training to develop specific skills, assessed against national assessment criteria and operational competence. Your probation period will be two years and at the end you will be signed off as a fully competent police officer.
We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, background, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation. Find further information about diversity and inclusion at Essex Police.
Start your application and begin your rewarding career with Essex Police.
Apply
Not sure, want to find out more?
Not sure about applying and want to find out more or need support with your application? Please contact us or attend one of our events.
When applying to be a detective with Essex Police, our applicants progress through seven stages. We have listed them below to help you understand the process you are about to embark on.
Step 1 - Your application
Read our top tips before moving on to complete your online application form.
Step 2 – Eligibility
During the eligibility process we must check you meet all the criteria before continuing your application; this includes all of the below:
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements your application will not continue.
Step 3 – National Sift
The national sift consists of two exercises which reflect the competencies and values relevant to the role of a police constable. These two exercises are as follows:
The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is designed to assess your judgement and decision-making in work-relevant situations against the Competencies Value Framework (CVF). The situations are presented to reflect the types of scenarios and actions police constables may face in their role.
The Behavioural Styles questionnaire is designed to explore your typical behaviour and preferences at work.
Step 4 – Attend a mandatory briefing session
All briefings will be conducted virtually for the time being. We will explain the remaining recruitment process and provide you insights in what to expect.
You will be required to complete an online assessment process hosted by the College of Policing. We will invite you to attend a mandatory workshop to provide you with full details of this assessment process.
During this stage you'll be tested on our competencies and values framework.
This bespoke detective assessment will consists of the following:
Written exercise
Each candidate will be asked to complete a written exercise based on a task that would be regularly expected of a Detective Constable. All materials will be provided and the exercise will be timed with spelling and grammar assessed throughout.
Interview
Applicants will take part in an interview panel comprising senior officers and HR professionals. The interview is expected to last 30-45 minutes with questions relating to the qualities outlined on the job description and the Competency Values Framework. The panel will be assessing answers which demonstrate competency at Level 1.
The pre-employment checks require applicants to attend the following:
We will also process the following checks:
Please note that we undertake random drug testing as part of our pre-employment checks. You may be asked to provide us with a sample - we will only undertake this after you have given your written consent.
Once we have received all of their pre-employment checks back and they are satisfactory to us, we will send applicants a final offer of employment.
The candidate will receive a number of forms with their final offer letter which need to be processed before starting their course. The applicant will be placed on the next available training course which will be based at Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford.
Applicants will attend a rigorous and thorough training process to give them the best head start in their career with us.
We in Essex Police are looking for committed and talented individuals to become detective constables.
Applications for the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP),Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and the Professional Policing Degree Holder programme (pre-join degree) are now open.
Apply for Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP)
Apply for Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
Apply for Professional Policing Degree Holder programme (pre-join degree)