Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP)

Cautions and Convictions

You may still be eligible to join the police service if you have minor convictions/cautions, but there are certain offences and conditions that will make you ineligible.

You MUST declare all convictions for past offences, formal cautions (including as a juvenile) and any bind-over imposed by the courts. You should also include all traffic convictions.

Due to the nature of policing, it’s essential that we conduct rigorous vetting checks on successful applicants before they can join the program.

 

Citizenship/Residency

You must be a British Citizen, citizen from the European Economic Area (EEA), Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom.

There are also residency requirements depending on the vetting level associated with the role you have applied for. For ‘RV’ level roles you must have been continually resident in the UK for the three year period immediately before an application is made. For ‘MV’ level roles you must have been continually resident in the UK for the five year period immediately before an application is made.

This is to satisfy the requirement to vet all applicants in an equitable manner and the UK Police service does not currently have any means of facilitating vetting checks overseas, to the extent required of those who have been resident in the UK. Applicants who cannot be vetted, cannot be appointed.

 

Financial Status

All applicants will have their financial status checked. These checks are carried out because Police Constables have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption.

• Any applicants with outstanding County Court judgements, who have been registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, will be rejected.
• If you have discharged bankruptcy debts then you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction with your application.
• Applicants who are the subject of a current Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) will not be considered.

 

Political Affiliation

South Wales Police has a policy of prohibiting any of our officers or staff from being members of the BNP, or a similar organisation whose aims, objectives or pronouncements may contradict the duty to promote race equality. If you are, or have previously been a member of the BNP or a similar organisation, your application will be rejected.

 

Tattoos

Candidates with visible tattoos may be eligible for appointment. Each case will be considered on its own merits, taking into account the number, nature, size, prominence, appearance and location of the tattoos. Tattoos must not be offensive to colleagues or members of the public or undermine the dignity of your role within the Force. Tattoos on the neck, face or hands are still deemed to be unacceptable but consideration may be given in some circumstances considering the size, nature and prominence of the tattoo. If candidates choose to have any additional tattoos during the recruitment process, after passing eligibility checks, the onus is on them to advise HR and provide appropriate photographs which will need to be checked.

 

Eligibility disclaimer

Honesty is always the best policy in all aspects of our recruitment process. It is essential that you declare all relevant information to us during both the application and vetting stages of the process. We will ask you questions but you should also tell us anything else that you think may impact on your suitability to do the role. You must also inform the recruitment team overseeing your role of any change in circumstance during your application process. Click here for their contact information.

It is important to know that many personal circumstances do not necessarily stop you from being eligible to join. However, if you don’t disclose relevant information, we have to consider this as a deliberate omission and attempt to hide that information from us. 

 

Welsh Language requirements

As an organisation we actively encourage the use of Welsh internally, to increase opportunities to see, hear and use the language when conducting our business.

While you can apply to join the force with no Welsh ability, it is expected that all Police Officer recruits will achieve level 2 Welsh by the end of their probation. Support will be provided for applicants to achieve this once in post, but applicants are welcome to begin learning Welsh before applying.

 

Reasonable Adjustments and Accommodations

We are able to approve reasonable adjustments or accommodations at our assessment centres and interviews for candidates that can provide suitable evidence.

It is important that applicants consider if they would like to request arrangements that will assist them in completing elements of the recruitment process. This could be in relation to disability, neurodiversity, pregnancy, menopause, injury, religion or belief etc.

All adjustments/accommodations will be considered on an individual basis, based on your circumstances and the evidence that you provide. Adjustments/accommodations can be offered to support a range of individual circumstances. 

Our Criminal Investigation Department handles incidents such as serious assaults, serious sexual assaults, robbery, burglary and major property thefts. They deal with serious incidents and progress investigations to their conclusion.

 

On successful conclusion of this program, you will be eligible to apply for a specialist detective post and it is possible to transfer to different units over the course of your career.

Public Protection Investigators investigate Child Sexual Exploitation, Child abuse and vulnerable adults who are at risk.

Our Organised Crime Unit proactively investigates Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) residing both inside and outside the South Wales Police Force area, which impacts upon the communities of South Wales.

The Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) are a centrally based team who investigate individuals in South Wales who use the internet with the intention of accessing, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The Major Crime Investigation Team are responsible for the management and investigation of the most serious and complex crimes including Suspicious Deaths, Murder, Kidnap and Extortion.

The Cyber Crime Unit are responsible for the investigation of all cyber dependent crime within the South Wales Police force area.

The Economic Crime Unit investigates the most complex, significant and high profile cases of fraud within South Wales, working in partnership with local, national and international forces, counter fraud agencies and public and private sector bodies.

You can complete the exercises on any internet-enabled device with a camera (laptop, tablet or phone), but to ensure full compatibility with the online platform, the following should be set up:

 

• Your operating system should be Windows 7 (or higher) or Mac OS 10.11 (or higher).
• Your browser should be the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Safari (Apple products only).
• You require a webcam and microphone to record responses.

 

It is advisable to complete the whole application process on the same device as the IP addresses will conflict if you decide to swap devices once you have commenced and this could prevent you continuing with your application. It is therefore not advisable to complete your application in work.

 

It is not advisable to use hand held devices such as tablets or mobile phones as they are not compatible with the on-line tests that have to be completed. We are only able to re-set tests on one occasion per candidate.

 

Applicants are also advised to check their “junk” box for email updates from the system.

The first step will be an online application process which includes some eligibility ‘killer questions’. If you pass this stage, you will be required to complete several online tests and an application form.

Each applicant must complete the national sift which will include two tests that every applicant must complete (regardless of qualifications). These are the Situational Judgement Test and a Behavioural Style Questionnaire. Both must be passed in order to continue in the application process.

Please note that this test can only be completed once in a three-month period or twice on 12 months.

Proof of Qualification

For this campaign, we are accepting candidates in the final year of a degree programme. If you are applying in your final year, we will require you to upload evidence from your Higher Education Provider in place of the full degree certificate.

If you have already achieved or in your final year of the BSc/BA Professional Policing Degree, you are eligible for this entry route.

If your Degree was achieved outside of the UK, you must achieve ratification from a Higher Education Establishment within the UK to evidence your qualification is recognised at Degree standard.

What will happen at the in-force interview?

You will be interviewed by a panel of police staff (usually two people) who will ask you questions based on the College of Policing competency and values framework (CVF) for policing.

The interviewers will ask you a series of questions. Use examples from your work, social, domestic or educational life to answer the interview questions. In these examples we are looking for specific evidence of competency behaviours which fit our organisation's values.

Be specific: we want to know what YOU said or did on a given occasion to deal with the situation. It’s therefore important that the examples you provide are your own experiences and as detailed as possible.

You will be asked to part-take in a detective based scenario.

Fitness

Policing can be physically demanding, so you will need to be in good physical condition to pass the fitness test.

The ‘bleep test’ takes 3 minutes and 35 seconds and entails candidates running back and forth a 15-metre track in time with a series of bleeps. As the test goes on, the bleeps become increasingly faster to level 5.4. The idea is to reach the other side before the next bleep. 

You have three attempts to pass your fitness test and all successful candidates are required to attend a pre-appointment fitness test prior to the anticipated appointment date to ensure you have maintained your fitness levels. You will only have one attempt at this and you must pass to progress your application.

 

Medical Assessment

Due to the nature of police work, good health and fitness is paramount. However, applications are welcome from people with disabilities and every effort will be made to make reasonable adjustments if required. If you are successful at the interview stage you will undertake a medical examination.

There are certain medical conditions and disorders that may have a detrimental effect on your ability to conduct the role effectively; each case will be considered carefully as part of the medical process.

As part of your medical assessment you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire and obtain a signature from a GP.

 

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Your weight range will be assessed during your medical assessment. The healthy weight range is based on a measurement known as your body mass index (BMI). This can be determined if you know your weight and your height. The actual calculation is your weight (in kilograms) divided by your height (in metres squared). Guidance and easy to use charts on how to calculate your BMI can be found on the NHS website.

The NHS advises that a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 suggests a normal healthy weight. This means your body is not at risk of weight-related disease.

The Home Office sets BMI standards for police officers. The current Home Office circular 59/2004 outlines this as between 18 and 30. Applicants who do not meet this standard may find their application delayed and / or will not be appointed.

Police Officer applicants with a BMI over 32 will not be considered fit unless their body fat percentage is less than 30% for men or 36% for women.

 

Vetting and references

The importance of honesty and integrity is made clear throughout our application process. Officers are subject to the Standards of Professional Behaviour, which clearly set out what communities can expect from their officers.

Everyone who joins South Wales Police will need to complete a security vetting process. It is useful to begin collecting the following as they will be required as part of this process:

• Your address history for the last five years
• Collate details of your monthly income and expenditure
• Collate details of your savings and borrowings
• Ever been declared bankrupt or had a CCJ? Get proof of debt being discharged
• Collate details of any secondary employment or business interests
• Your partner and their address history for the last 5 years

Collate your family/friends/associates details, i.e:

• Your parents and your partner’s parents
• Your full, half & step siblings
• Your children (if aged over 10)
• All co-residents at your current address (e.g. lodgers)
• Any criminal associates
• Any cautions, convictions or Fixed Penalty notices

 

Collate details of any previous contact with the police, e.g:

• If you’ve ever been arrested
• If you’ve ever been involved in an investigation
• Any traffic offences (excluding parking offences)

References are required to cover a minimum of 5 years of continuous employment history. If you have not been in employment for 5 years we will look to obtain education and personal references.

 

Drugs test and biometric vetting

You will also be asked to undertake a drugs test and provide information about any medication you may be taking. Legislation has been introduced that requires applicants to undergo biometric vetting.

If you should fail the drugs test you will not be offered a position with South Wales Police. Any internal candidates who fail a drugs test will have their offer withdrawn and the results from the drugs test may be used in accordance with the South Wales Police Staff Discipline Police and Police Staff Code of Conduct.

On the day we will be asking you to sign a consent form to take your fingerprints and a sample of your DNA for the purposes of a speculative search and for your fingerprints and DNA profile to be retained on the Police Elimination Database (PEDb).

The purpose of obtaining fingerprints and DNA samples is to allow for a speculative search to be made against the local and national databases prior to your appointment to the police force. This is to ensure that you have not previously come to adverse police attention, which you have not informed us of, and also that you are not linked to any outstanding crime scenes.

If successful in your application, you will receive the highest level of training and support and you can expect excellent career prospect and benefits.

PHASE 1 

You will spend your first 6 months within training where you will learn the relevant legislation and processes alongside technical skills such as Personal Safety Training, First Aid and force computer systems. This will be based from SWP HQ in Bridgend.

 

PHASE 2 

Following this you will deploy with an experienced tutor constable to a uniformed response team for a month working a rotating shift pattern of days (0700-1700), onto afternoons (1500-2300 or until 0300 on Friday / Saturday) and onto nights (2200-0700) across 7 days of the week followed by 4 rest days. This may include Public Holidays. This will give you an insight into the role of an operational police officer and investigator.

At the end of this phase as long as you have demonstrated and evidenced the necessary skills you will achieve Independent Patrol Status and remain within uniformed Policing to develop your core Policing skills.

During your 2-year probationary period, you will be required to evidence your operational competence by dealing with a variety of different Police incidents.

From day one you will be expected to contribute to making our communities safer places to live and bring your experiences and ideas to a modern and progressive force. In return and in addition to a comprehensive training programme you can expect excellent career prospect and benefits.

Will I be wearing a uniform? 

Yes, during the initial training. The programme requires successful candidates to develop core policing knowledge and skills in a uniform response policing role.

Following this period smart business attire will be required (provided at individual expense). But please note as a police officer you may be deployed or asked to work in uniform if the organisation requires.

 

I don't have a degree, can I still apply? 

Unfortunately you can only join via this Detective Pathway if you are able to evidence completion of a UK or non-UK degree.

If you do not have a degree, why not consider joining our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)?

Additional eligibility are the same for all police officer posts.

 

If I have a disability can I still apply? 

Yes. We welcome applications from people with disabilities. Adjustments will be made to selection processes and/or the working environment, provided it is reasonable in all circumstances to do so.

If you consider yourself to have a disability, please inform us of the type of reasonable adjustments you might need to assist you in participating in the recruitment and selection process.

Candidates with a neurodiversity related condition, e.g. dyslexia, can request reasonable adjustments during the assessment process.

 

I already have an application in to become a police officer, can I apply to both?

Unfortunately not. You need to choose which route is the most appealing to you and apply for only that route. Our systems will flag up any duplicate applications and will lead to rejection from the process.