Detective Constable recruitment is now open

Recruitment for this entry route is now closed – please visit our Detectives page to register your interest ahead of our next recruitment period, expected in Spring 2026.

Crime Academy Manager, Mark Glover, who was recently played by Jonathan Aris in the BBC drama The Sixth Commandment, said:

“We’re are looking for individuals that are inquisitive, observant, tenacious, methodical, dedicated, resilient, can demonstrate reasoned decision making, attention to detail and a commitment to doing the right thing in difficult circumstances. It is not for the faint hearted, as you will be dealing with distressing incidents.

Investigating serious and complex crime is challenging but also very rewarding, making a difference for many, and often the most vulnerable in society.”

If successful, you will complete various levels of training including an extended period on the incident and crime response (ICR) teams where you will be exposed to live operational policing. Following your time in ICR, you will be tutored by an experienced detective in one of the following departments: Priority Crime Team, CID or Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit.

Having completed the DCEP programme there are further opportunities to move to other investigation departments, such as being a Family Liaison Officer (FLO), where you might be deployed to the family of a victim of a homicide, or be an enhanced suspect or witness interviewer. More specialist departments include the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Major Crime Unit, Specialist Operations, and the regional Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Units.

You may also wish to gain promotion – our detectives have a high pass rate in the promotion pathway. The beauty of being a detective is that it opens so many doors for you, whether it is promotion or lateral progression.

The DCEP pathway is a highly sought after competitive route and will only be open for a limited time. You may not feel it is quite the route for you but can still join TVP as a Police Constable, and after two years, apply to become a detective. We recruit on average one hundred detectives a year internally like this but we want to recruit even more talented diverse individuals who have relevant previous work experience, or a background that would support an investigative career.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a detective at Thames Valley Police, please visit our Detectives webpage, or for learn more about our other entry routes at our Police Officer page

DCEP Detective