Are you looking for a career like no other? Do you want the opportunity to use your degree while gaining hands-on experience from day one? If so, join West Midlands Police through our Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP). As a Police Constable, you’ll play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, protecting the vulnerable, and tackling crime. This is a challenging but hugely rewarding career where no two days are ever the same.
If you already have an active application to become a Police Officer, please do not submit another. You can log into Oracle to check the progress of your existing application. If you were successful in becoming a Police Officer within the past 3 months, please do not reapply. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept new applications if you were unsuccessful within the past 3 months.
About the DHEP Programme
- Graduate Route, open to graduates in any subject, this programme allows you to train as a Police Constable while studying for a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing.
- Two-Year Programme, a balance of in-house training, university-led learning, and frontline policing.
- Blended Learning, classroom teaching (delivered at WMP sites and virtually) is combined with on-the-job experience and digital study.
- Ongoing Support, you’ll receive guidance and mentoring from experienced officers throughout.
- Future Opportunities – Once you’ve completed your two-year probation, you’ll have access to a wide range of career paths, including specialist units (Firearms, Dogs, Roads Policing, Investigations, Drones) and progression into leadership roles.
Please note: This is not a direct Detective route. However, after initial training, you may apply to join our Detective Academy pathway.
What’s in it for you?
- Starting salary: £31,164.00, rising annually up to £50,256.00 within seven years.
- Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing (on successful completion).
- 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 after five years.
- Extensive benefits, including a pension scheme, employee support, staff networks, and professional development opportunities. See our benefits webpage for more details.
- A career that matters, make a lasting impact on communities while developing your skills and future.
Who can apply?
You must have:
- A degree (Level 6 or above) in any subject, at any grade, OR
- Be in the final academic year of your degree (eligibility dependent on completion).
Only final degree certificates will be accepted, these must be uploaded with your application.
Fitness, Medical & Vetting
- Must meet the bleep test standard of 5.4.
- Must pass medical checks, which may include drug and fitness testing.
- Must pass our required vetting checks. See our Vetting FAQ for more information.
Residency & Nationality
- Lived in the UK for the past three years.
- Must be a British, Irish, or EEA national, or have the right to work in the UK without restrictions.
Application Process
- Our careers website provides a step by step breakdown of the application process.
- Training & Probation – A two-year blended learning programme combining policing experience with academic study.
About Us
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.
Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.
