Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Durham Constabulary is now welcoming applications to join our next intake of Police Constables. If you’re motivated by purpose, passionate about community, and ready for a career where no two days are the same, we want to hear from you.

We’re recruiting through:

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Candidates who are waiting for Level 3 results in August can apply, offer would be subject to received 112 UCAS points or above

Want to learn more before applying? Come to our VIRTUAL discovery event Tuesday 14th July 6pm

Make a Difference Where It Matters

Policing is more than a job — it’s a chance to make a real and lasting difference.

As a frontline police officer, you’ll:

Build trust and strong relationships across diverse communities

Respond to incidents and protect those most in need

Tackle crime and contribute to safer neighbourhoods

Support victims and bring offenders to justice

Helping those vulnerable within our society

We’re looking for people from all backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life. Whether you’re starting your career or looking for a new challenge, your unique perspective is valuable to us. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

This is a fast-paced and demanding role, but it’s also deeply rewarding. You’ll need resilience, empathy, and a commitment to public service.

Start your policing career while earning a degree. Make a difference from day one.

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career where you can make a real impact in your community? The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) offers a unique opportunity to become a fully warranted police officer while gaining a recognised degree in Professional Practice in partnership with Northumbria University.

The Programme

The PCDA is a three-year paid apprenticeship combining practical, on-the-job policing with academic study.

However, Durham’s programme is unique in many ways, one of the main features is that all work towards the degree will be completed within 6 months of the third year of the programme. The degree is completely paid for through the apprenticeship levy and you will not incur any costs of the programme.

Which means you gain a FREE degree whilst getting paid.

You will work alongside experienced officers, gaining the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to respond to a wide range of incidents, while developing a strong academic understanding of modern policing.

What You Will Gain

A fully funded degree in Professional Policing Practice within 2years and 6 months

A starting salary from day one, with incremental progression

Hands-on operational experience across a variety of policing areas

Development of critical decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership skills

Ongoing support from both force trainers and university lecturers

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking individuals who are:

Committed to serving and protecting their communities

Resilient, adaptable, and able to perform under pressure

Strong communicators with a willingness to learn

Dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity

These rewards include helping some of the most vulnerable people in our community to feel safe and secure. You will feel job satisfaction through robustly dealing with criminals and enforcing the law. You will work individually and as a team with your colleagues to gain justice and create a sense of unity within the community.

We have a competitive pension scheme, and you will have access to our discounts & wellbeing benefits.

We recognise that the job is fast-paced and demanding which is why we are proud to be a supportive well- being lead organisation, with help from our TRiM referral system to internal help from our Occupational Health & Welfare department, Counselling and our Senior Management Team.

We offer the opportunity for lateral moves, from Response to CID, Safeguarding, Firearms, Digital, Dogs, to promotion opportunities, Constable to Chief Constable.

Important:

This role includes shift work (including nights, weekends, and public holidays), as we provide a 24/7 service.

Apply