Police Officer - Professional Policing Degree (PC-PPD)

Police Officer
Buckinghamshire
Police Constable
£34,164 (which includes a £3,000 South East living allowance)
Full Time
Permanent

If you already hold the Professional Policing Degree (PPD) or are in the second or third year of your study then this is the entry route for you. 

 

The PPD entry route is a two-year work-based programme.  You will undertake a period of initial learning of 12-14 weeks at our training centre in Sulhamstead or Kidlington, before moving to your designated Local Policing Area for further operational coaching and tutoring.

 

You will undertake training in areas critical to effective 21st century policing, such as evidence-based policing, decision-making and discretion, risk and public protection and criminality and crime prevention.

 

Once you have successfully passed your two year probation you will be able to consider further opportunities of progression and specialism within the force.

 

This programme offers a fantastic opportunity for you to continue to learn beyond your initial degree, whilst earning a salary as a fully warranted police officer from day one.

 

The starting salary for all new recruits is £34,164 (which includes £3,000 South-East allowance). On the current system officers can expect to be earning a salary in excess of £53,000 per annum by your seventh year in the job.

 

This application is primarily for Buckinghamshire covering Amersham, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Milton Keynes police stations. However, if you can reach other main stations in Oxfordshire or Berkshire, those locations will also be taken into account when a positing decision is made. You should not apply for multiple locations.

Start date: late 2026

 

Eligibility

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • be at least 17 years of age upon application but must be 18 years of age by your first day in the role
  • be a British citizen, an EC/EEA national with Pre-Settled/Settled status, or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with Indefinite Leave to Remain and no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom
  • residency – have been a UK resident for the last three years
  • have completed the Professional Policing Degree or be in the last two years of study
  • apply within five years of your graduation date
  • hold a full manual UK driving licence by the time of formal offer
  • not have served any time in prison or youth detention (if you have a criminal conviction, it may lead to your application being rejected – we will take into account the date, nature of offence plus evidence of good character since the offence)
  • be in good health and able to physically and mentally perform your duties
  • not have any piercings or tattoos which could cause offence
  • live within 40 road miles and 1 hour commute of two of our main police stations before a formal job offer is made. Flexibility is expected in terms of postings as we may need to post to certain locations based on organisational need and this might not be your preferred location. 

 

 

Be the difference you want to see. At Thames Valley Police, we are committed to better reflect the communities that we serve. We encourage applications from our underrepresented communities including all ethnic or religious backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and women.

 

 

Our Positive Action and Engagement Team provide support and guidance to anyone from an ethnically diverse background throughout the police officer recruitment process as well as advise on career development and progression. They can be contacted via: positiveactionteam@thamesvalley.police.uk

At Thames Valley Police (TVP) we work together to protect our communities.  Whether as an officer, staff member or volunteer, you will make a difference and play an important role in helping achieve our mission.  As you take on a role with pride and confidence, you will be supported, developed and valued, ensuring you can be at your best in the service of our communities. Learn more About Us.

Working Smart.  You will be joining an organisation that strives to improve every day.  In the post-pandemic era this means changing the way we work and deliver our services, which brings a number of benefits including a more flexible and capable workforce. 

Supporting You.  Your wellbeing and safety is at the heart of all we do.  Whilst you are doing the work that matters, we’ll be supporting you via a wide range of Wellbeing services, partnerships and initiatives.  We have a number of active staff support networks and buddy schemes which you will have access to and can be involved with. We are committed to building a workforce that better reflects the communities we serve and an inclusive culture that not only values, but finds strength in difference. We also offer a comprehensive range of benefits and discount schemes, some provided directly by the organisation and others via partnerships including Blue Light card.  Learn more about how we will be Supporting You.

Developing You.  We promote a culture where your continuous professional development and learning is actively encouraged and where people have the opportunity, and responsibility, to achieve their full potential. 

Vetting.  All posts require a level of Police Vetting as per the National Vetting Code of Practice. The residency requirement is necessary to enable all applicants to be checked in an equitable manner. Thames Valley Police will allow applicants to apply who do not necessarily reach the criteria as long as they have proven UK residency and supporting evidence where necessary. Applications will be considered on a case by case basis.