Police officer

Police officers respond to incidents, investigate crimes and work closely with communities to keep them safe.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a police officer, you could:

  • respond to calls for help from the public
  • investigate incidents, crimes and offences
  • collect witness statements, intelligence and evidence
  • interview suspects and make arrests
  • give evidence in court
  • control traffic and crowds at large public events and gatherings
  • advise the public on personal safety and crime prevention

Working environment

You could work on a patrol or at a police station.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

After training, you'll need to pass a probationary period as a police constable.

There are opportunities to specialise in a particular type of policing, for example:

  • criminal investigation department (CID), anti-fraud or road traffic
  • drugs or firearms
  • counter-terrorism
  • air support or underwater search
  • dog-handling or mounted policing

With experience and extra training, you may be able to apply for promotion to sergeant, inspector or chief inspector.

In the CID, you'll also have the title of detective added to your rank, for example detective sergeant or detective chief inspector.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • negotiation skills for keeping people safe
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • sensitivity and understanding for dealing with traumatic situations
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • leadership skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

Most relevant

  • Law - Police officers need a solid understanding of criminal law, including powers of arrest, rules of evidence, and court procedures. They give evidence in court, interview suspects within legal frameworks, and must ensure their actions comply with legislation to build cases that hold up in prosecution.
  • Psychology - Police officers deal with people in highly stressful and emotional situations every day, from victims of crime to volatile suspects. Understanding human behaviour, body language, and mental health helps them de-escalate conflicts, conduct effective interviews, and support vulnerable individuals.
  • English Language - Police officers write detailed witness statements, crime reports, and case files that must be clear, accurate, and usable in court. They also need strong verbal communication skills for interviewing suspects, taking statements, and explaining legal rights to members of the public.
  • Sociology - Police officers work closely with diverse communities and need to understand how social factors like poverty, inequality, and group dynamics can influence crime and behaviour. This knowledge helps them with community policing, crime prevention strategies, and building trust with the public.
  • Physical Education - Police officers must pass fitness tests and maintain physical readiness throughout their careers. The role can involve foot chases, restraining suspects, and long hours on patrol in demanding conditions, so physical fitness and resilience are essential.

Also relevant

  • Politics - Police officers operate within a framework of government policy, legislation, and public accountability. Understanding how laws are made, how policing is governed, and how political decisions shape priorities like counter-terrorism or drug enforcement helps officers see the bigger picture of their role.
  • Mathematics - Police officers use numerical skills when analysing crime statistics, managing budgets for operations, and interpreting forensic or financial evidence. Investigators working on fraud or organised crime cases particularly rely on the ability to follow complex financial trails.
  • Computer Science - Police officers increasingly deal with cybercrime, digital evidence, and online fraud. Those who specialise in digital investigations need to understand how data is stored, how networks operate, and how to recover evidence from devices and online platforms.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
  • a rejoiner scheme

You can do a degree in any subject then apply for a place on one of the police entry programmes, such as:

Alternatively, you can complete a 3-year Professional Policing degree at a participating university.

You are not guaranteed a job at the end of the course. Instead, you have to apply for police constable roles within 5 years of completing this degree.

If you want to train to be a detective, you can apply for a place on the 2-year National Detective Programme (NDP).

You will need a degree and at least 2 A levels or equivalent qualifications to apply for the NDP.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

You could do a college course to prepare for a direct application for police officer training or a degree apprenticeship, though this is not essential.

Courses include:

  • uniformed protective services
  • public services

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

You could apply to do a Police Constable Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. It's a 3-year work-based programme that leads to a degree in Professional Policing Practice.

If you want to work in non-emergency response situations you could apply for a place on a Serious and Complex Crime Investigator Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This can lead to work with police forces and organisations like:

  • the National Crime Agency
  • HM Revenue and Customs
  • the Ministry of Defence

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

You could get paid work as a police community support officer (PCSO) before applying for police officer training.

You can get a taste of what it's like to work with the police by volunteering as a special constable.

You can apply directly through the 2-year Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).

You'll need 2 A levels or equivalent qualifications to apply. Relevant experience can also be taken into account. This might be from:

  • the armed forces
  • work as a police community support officer (PCSO)
  • the emergency services

You can search for forces that are recruiting for the PCEP. If your initial application is successful, you'll be invited to an assessment centre where you'll take written tests and have an interview.

If you're a former police officer, you could return to policing by contacting a participating force for details about their rejoiner scheme.

Career tips

If you're aged 13 to 18 you could become a police cadet. The skills you learn and experiences you gain will benefit you whatever career path you choose.

Further information

You can find information on routes into policing from Joining the Police.

You'll need to contact your local police force to apply, as each force has its own recruitment rules.

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