Detective Degree Holder Entry Programme (DDHEP)

Police officer eligibility criteria and quizzes for suitability can be found on our is a career in policing right for me page.

In addition to the officer eligibility criteria, the DDHEP route requires you to hold an undergraduate degree in any subject, at the time of application (we do not accept predicted qualifications). You are not eligible to apply for the DDHEP route if you hold or are working towards the degree in professional policing.

For an overview of an officer’s typical day-to-day tasks and what Avon and Somerset Police expect from officers, see our what makes a good police officer page.

Candidates starting on the DDHEP will commence on pay point one of the police constable pay scales. This will increase annually on the anniversary of your joining date.

• Year 1 (pay point 1): £29,907
• Year 2 (pay point 2): £31,164

As a detective, you will be contracted to work 40 hours per week and both your classroom and on the job training aligns to these working hours.

Whilst studying, you are required to attend training at UWE and Police Headquarters Monday to Friday working either 08:00 to 16:00 or 09:00 to 17:00 as defined by your timetable upon joining.

Whilst in tutorship and working as an operational detective, you will work to a four week rotating shift pattern including early shifts (08:00 to 17:00), late shifts (14:00 to 23:00) and approximately one night shift per month.

The DDHEP programme includes classroom delivery, practical application and tutorship and study is split between the university’s Frenchay and Glenside campuses and Police Headquarters in Portishead. You will be classed as a full-time student, so will be able to take advantage of UWE Bristol student benefits.

As well as working with our investigative teams, you will complete four modules over a two year period, covering the key themes of the policing curriculum:

1. Legislation, powers and policy
2. Policing skills and procedures
3. Developing policing practice
4. Conducting effective investigations

In your first 14 weeks of learning, you will undertake personal protection training, driver training, system training as well as knowledge based learning at Police Headquarters and a Higher Education Provider. You will then work with operational teams to put into practice your acquired skills and knowledge. During this time you will work the same shift pattern as the Response teams.

You are not required to wear uniform whilst in lectures. There will be occasions when you will be required to wear either a uniform or smart business attire when working on police premises or on practical assessments.

The National Investigators’ Exam (NIE) is a requirement during year two of study. This exam is designed to identify those candidates who can demonstrate the sufficient level of knowledge of law and procedure relevant to a trainee investigator. The NIE is a multiple-choice examination, testing knowledge of law and procedure relevant to the role of a trainee investigator. The examination consists of 80 questions answered over two hours.

At the end of the two-year DDHEP, you will have gained the skills, knowledge and experience required to work as a detective and will continue to receive professional guidance and mentoring.  You will manage your own caseload and work as part of a team to solve crimes, bringing offenders to justice and delivering positive outcomes for the community.

Read our step-by-step recruitment process for police officers.