You play a key part in maintaining the safety of your community, on the streets, face to face with the public, or behind the scenes in specialist services. Show Policing is never easy. There are major physical and psychological challenges and you need to develop resilience. But it can be incredibly rewarding, with no day ever the same. Criminology-related studies here at City, University of London are interdisciplinary in nature at every level. Our programmes overlap fields including:
This helps to give you a rounded perspective and prepares you for careers in the police, prisons and related areas. What can I expect from a career as a police officer?As a police officer you work with communities to uphold law and order, protect the public, reduce fear of crime and improve quality of life for everyone. Using a mix of technical equipment to protect individuals, you will identify suspects, gather evidence and ensure successful prosecutions against lawbreakers. Your daily working environment can regularly change. You may be walking the streets, in a patrol car, at the station or attending court. There will be physical demands and potential dangers and you should be prepared to face psychologically challenging scenes. Working as a police officer is pressurised and can be influenced by regional factors such as culture, the size of the force or the local terrain. Your duties can include:
Related courses at CityWhatever your level of interest in becoming a police officer, City's courses can help you take one step closer to a career as a police officer, develop specialisms that'll set you apart from the field or broaden your horizons with study in related subjects.
Working for the police forceYou are likely to seek work with one of the 45 police forces currently in the UK. Although you may also consider specialist forces such as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), or Civil Nuclear Constabulary. There is also the competitive area of forensic police work. This is either undertaken in police laboratories or outsourced in England and Wales, with designated bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland. You might consider Police Now, a two-year graduate programme operating with several forces in England and Wales. It offers graduates with at least a 2.1 qualification a structured route to becoming a police officer. Your reasons for choosing a career in the police force should be clear and easy to explain when applying for work. Demonstrating knowledge of the local force, its senior officers and key challenges will also support your application. Requirements for becoming a police differ across police forces, so you should make contact with your target police force before applying. What about policing work experience?It will help your policing ambitions to have experience of working with individuals or groups in the community. This might include coaching sports or helping with local youth groups. You might also gain useful experience by volunteering with groups like the Volunteer Police Cadets. The Metropolitan Police has its own specific site for London volunteers. You could equally volunteer as a police community support officer (PCSO) or a special constable. Special constables, also known as Specials, are paid expenses to volunteer and after full training have the same powers as a police constable. As a special constable you would help manage public safety at major events or combat city-centre disorder. What are my prospects as a police officer?After you complete a two-year probationary period as a police constable, a variety of career opportunities are available. The rank structure for officers is:
Following the two-year probationary period, you are eligible to apply for work in specialist units including the criminal investigation department (CID), fraud squad, firearms, child protection or underwater search units. What are the entry requirements for the UK police?Age. You must be aged 17 or older on the date of submitting your application. ... . Education requirements. hold a level 2 in Maths and English (grade C/4 or above) at the time of applying. ... . Driving licence. ... . Nationality and residency. ... . Fitness. ... . Health assessment. ... . Background checks. ... . Disqualifying factors.. What are the academic requirements for the police?It is essential to gain qualifications in Maths, English Language and Science. It is also preferable to show strong ability in PE. All police officers must pass an initial recruitment test, including a fitness and educational test.
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