Police Constable - Student Officer

Police Constable - Student Officer - PCDA Entry Route February 2026

Do you have the skills and passion to take on the most rewarding job you could ever do?

Are you someone who wants to make a real difference?

At North Yorkshire you'll be part of a team where professionalism is valued. Where our values of courage, compassion and inspiration underpin the service to the public we provide. It's also a place where we recognise that different perspectives and different talents make for a stronger police service.

You must be a person who thrives on challenges and be willing to work hard to learn the skills necessary for this demanding role. Being a Police Officer is a tough and unpredictable job, however incredibly rewarding with high levels of job satisfaction.

We ll give you the training; the trust and the personal development to expand your career in any direction you choose. Starting a career in the police can be one of the best things you ll ever do. You ll be able to make a real difference in your community, reducing crimes and making people safer. But being a police officer isn t for everyone it s one of the most challenging careers you can choose, being physically, mentally and emotionally demanding.

You should consider whether you can:

• Deal with the complex and sensitive cases, requiring clear reasoning and evidence gathering
• Think on your feet problem solving and responding to new challenges
• Develop new skills as data and technology become ever more important to policing
• Work well with colleagues as part of an effective team
• Have great people skills, remaining calm and patient with members of the public, particularly in stressful or volatile situations
• Handle traumatic situations and be able to communicate information sensitively
• Be decisive and use your police powers appropriately
• Give clear and accurate evidence in court
• Work shifts, nights and weekends (including public holidays)

Eligibility to apply:

• You must be aged 17 or over at the point of application and must be 18 by the time you are appointed.
• You must possess a Level 2 Qualification in Maths and English Language (equivalent to GCSE grade A-C or Level 4 or above)
• You must also possess a Level 3 qualification within the meaning of Section 3 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 or the equivalent experience.
• Where an applicant does not hold a level 3 qualification, we will also consider training or work experience, whether undertaken in or outside England and Wales, which is considered to be equivalent to a level 3 qualification.
• You should hold a full, valid manual EU/UK driving licence. You will have held this license for at least 6 months prior to starting.
• You must pass the police security vetting clearances. Honesty is of the highest importance in policing. If you have a criminal record, this doesn t mean you won t be considered. This depends on the nature of your conviction and circumstances will be considered on an individual basis.
• You must meet our attendance standards, be able to pass the job-related fitness test (bleep test), undertake medical screening and meet the (url removed) candidates must serve wherever required to do so within North Yorkshire, please consider travel distance prior to submitting your application.

Benefits!

Working as a Police Officer is a genuinely rewarding career not just for the satisfaction you get from helping to make our communities safer, but for the pay and benefits you ll receive too.

• You ll be a police officer from your first day on the job so you can earn while you learn throughout your apprenticeship. Your training will involve both hand on training with academic study via the Open University.
• A starting salary of £29,907. As your policing career progresses so does your salary!
• Inclusion in the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Access to Staff support networks
• Discounts at major high street stores, retail outlets, food establishments and other organisations nationwide
• Access to Health & Wellbeing support

We, at North Yorkshire Police value difference. We have a positive action team who are dedicated to supporting you through your application and beyond. If you feel you need any reasonable adjustments to help reach your potential, please contact our Positive Action Team (url removed)

Closing date - 9am Friday 22nd August

Course dates (start dates) will be throughout 2026.

To access more information from the College of Policing website on the assessment process please visit: (url removed) is our aim to keep you updated throughout each stage of the recruitment process via the online application centre, so please ensure you keep checking this on a regular basis.

Please note: You can apply directly to more than one police force at a time for the position of police constable. You can only sit one assessment centre within a three-month period, but this should not prevent you from entering applications with more than one force should you wish.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities and preventing discrimination at all stages of the assessment process - our recruitment decisions are based on selecting the best person for the job.