Police Now
Counter Terrorism
Police Now's Counter Terrorism specialism trains graduates as detectives first, then moves them into counter terrorism policing in year two. It has stricter rules than any other Police Now route. Every rule, date and figure below is from Police Now's own pages and news, read on 21 October 2026, or from our 2026/27 pay data.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 21 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
A two-year graduate route into Counter Terrorism Policing. You train at Police Now's 13-week detective academy, sit the National Investigators' Exam, work as a trainee detective in your force and begin counter terrorism work in year two. You must be a UK national (dual nationals with a British element may be considered), have up to ten years' UK residence and pass Developed Vetting. In the Met it pays £43,688 from day one on 2026/27 rates. The March 2027 entry has closed; the next window opens early 2027 for a March 2028 start.
What Police Now Counter Terrorism is
Police Now is a charity that recruits and trains graduates for partner police forces. Its National Graduate Programme has four specialisms: Neighbourhood, Detective, Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism. Police Now's programme page says Counter Terrorism and Economic Crime "follow a similar structure to the Detective pathway".
In practice that means you are recruited by a force with a counter terrorism need, sworn in as a constable, trained as a detective and then moved into counter terrorism work. Police Now's Counter Terrorism page says you begin counter terrorism work in year two and that graduates progress into the CT team "immediately or soon after programme completion".
Police Now's page describes eleven regional counter terrorism units (CTUs) and intelligence units (CTIUs) and says the work can bring you alongside agencies "from MI5 to special forces". The forces that have taken Police Now CT recruits so far are the Met, West Midlands Police and Greater Manchester Police (for the North West region).
Police Now's Counter Terrorism page, its March 2027 Met job description, its vetting page and four of its news releases (2024 to 2026), all read on 21 October 2026. Police Now's own pages disagree with each other on nationality and residency; where they do, we show both and say which we would rely on.
When you can apply
The March 2027 entry has closed. Police Now says applications for the March 2028 start open early next year and you can register interest by region. The March 2027 Counter Terrorism role was with the Metropolitan Police Service. Police Now has not said which forces will offer Counter Terrorism in March 2028.
Counter Terrorism places are few and popular: Police Now said in November 2024 that the stream drew over 1,000 applications, about 19 per place. Its pages also say spaces are limited and applications may close early. See when Police Now applications open for what to do while the window is closed.
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The Counter Terrorism cohorts so far
Counter Terrorism started as a pilot with the Met in 2024 and has grown since. These figures are from Police Now's own news releases:
| Intake | Force or unit | Recruits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Metropolitan Police Service, Counter Terrorism Policing | 75 | First CT stream, attested 18 March 2024 as part of 229 trainee detectives. CT training in the second year |
| March 2025 | Met (SO15) | 8 | Attested 17 March 2025 |
| March 2025 | West Midlands Police (Counter Terrorism, West Midlands) | 45 | Attested 17 March 2025 |
| March 2025 | Greater Manchester Police (Counter Terrorism, North West) | 8 | Attested 17 March 2025 |
| May 2026 | First cohort graduates | Not stated | Police Now news, 22 May 2026: graduates stay in Counter Terrorism Policing |
| July 2026 | Met and West Midlands Police | Not split | 124 recruits (Neighbourhood and Counter Terrorism) took the oath on 20 July 2026 |
| March 2027 | Metropolitan Police Service | Not stated | Job description for the March 2027 entry. Applications have closed |
The first Met cohort trained at the 2024 academy, worked in CID, then moved to SO15, the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. Police Now's May 2026 news says those graduates will stay in Counter Terrorism Policing. In Police Now's November 2024 news, Matt Jukes, quoted as Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said he was pleased to partner with Police Now again "after a successful pilot".
Eligibility: what is different for Counter Terrorism
Most Police Now rules are the same for every specialism. Counter Terrorism adds tighter nationality, residency and vetting rules. The table compares the general rules with the March 2027 Met job description and the Counter Terrorism page.
| Rule | Every specialism | Counter Terrorism |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | First, 2:1 or 2:2 in any subject (or non-UK equivalent), all education complete by the start | Same |
| Level 3 | Equivalent to at least two A levels | Same |
| Age | Over 17 to apply, 18 by appointment | Same |
| Nationality | Indefinite leave to remain or settled status (pre-settled in some forces) | UK national; dual nationals with a British element may be considered in approved cases (Met job description) |
| UK residence | Three continuous years | Ten years (Met job description); the CT page says five years for West Midlands Police and ten for the Met |
| Vetting | Recruitment vetting, often a counter terrorist check | Recruitment vetting and counter terrorist check before the start; managed vetting, Security Check and Developed Vetting during the academy |
| Driving licence | Varies by force; the Met needs none | Not mentioned in the Met CT job description |
For the rules every applicant meets, including degree subject, level 3, finances and tattoos, see the full Police Now eligibility guide or run the free eligibility checker.
Nationality and residency in detail
Police Now's pages do not agree, so here is each version in full:
- Met job description (March 2027): you must be a UK national. In approved circumstances, dual nationals of whom one element is British may be considered. You must have been resident in the UK for the past ten years, with some exemptions.
- Counter Terrorism page, requirements list: indefinite leave to remain or settled status, with at least five years' UK residence for West Midlands Police and ten years for the Met.
- Counter Terrorism page, links section: counter terrorism work requires continuous UK residence for the past ten years and British citizenship; applicants with dual nationality where one part is British will still be considered.
Our reading: the job description is the document for a specific role, so rely on it. For the Met, plan on UK nationality and ten years' residence. For West Midlands Police, the five-year figure may apply, but confirm it with Police Now before you apply.
The Met job description says "some exemptions" apply to the ten-year rule. Police Now's general eligibility rules give exceptions for service abroad with the armed forces or government. Police Now does not list the CT exemptions in full, so if you have lived abroad (a gap year, study or work overseas), ask before you apply. Our guide to overseas travel and residency in vetting explains how time abroad is usually checked.
Vetting levels on the Counter Terrorism route
Vetting is where Counter Terrorism differs most. Police Now's vetting page lists five levels and which specialisms need them. Counter Terrorism is the only specialism that needs all five.
| Level | What it covers | Who needs it | When (Counter Terrorism) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment Vetting | Identity, address history and past convictions | Every specialism | Before the programme starts |
| Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) | Includes the Baseline Personnel Security Standard; renewed every 10 years | Counter Terrorism and Detective; often Neighbourhood and Economic Crime, depending on force | Before the programme starts |
| Managed Vetting | Enhanced: family members and detailed finances | Counter Terrorism; some forces for Detective and Economic Crime | During the academy |
| Security Check (SC) | First level of national security vetting: family, partner, finances and lifestyle | Counter Terrorism only | During the academy (Police Now's CT page names MV and DV; its vetting page lists SC for CT) |
| Developed Vetting (DV) | Highest level: detailed background screening, interviews and character references | Counter Terrorism only | During the academy; must be passed before joining the CT team |
Police Now says vetting "can range from around one to three months", depending on the force and the type. National security vetting during the academy is separate from that recruitment timeline and Police Now does not publish how long it takes.
For how police vetting levels fit together, see our police vetting levels guide.
What Developed Vetting involves
Developed Vetting (DV) is the highest level of UK national security vetting. Police Now describes it as "a more detailed background screening as well as interviews and character references". The Cabinet Office's published description of the clearance levels sets out what a DV check includes:
| Part | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Security questionnaire | A DV Security Questionnaire covering your history, family and associates |
| Baseline checks | The Baseline Personnel Security Standard (identity, right to work, employment history) |
| Records checks | Departmental records, spent and unspent criminal records and Security Service records |
| Money | A credit reference check and a full review of personal finances: assets, liabilities, income and spending |
| Interview | A detailed interview with a trained Investigating Officer |
| References | Further enquiries, including referee interviews |
| Review | Cabinet Office policy: formally reviewed after 7 years at most |
The Counter Terrorist Check (CTC), which you pass before the programme starts, is lighter: a questionnaire, records checks and an interview only if there are unresolved concerns. It does not include the credit check or the full review of finances that DV does.
In our reading of the published checks, DV is not looking for a spotless life. It looks for honesty and for anything that could make you open to pressure, such as hidden debts, undeclared relationships or associations, or things you would rather nobody knew. Being open about a past problem is far safer than leaving it out.
CTC, SC and DV side by side
| Counter Terrorist Check | Security Check | Developed Vetting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Yes | Yes (Police Now: family, partner, finances and lifestyle) | Yes (DV Security Questionnaire) |
| Criminal record and Security Service checks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit and financial checks | No (Cabinet Office description) | Police Now lists finances | Credit check and a full review of finances |
| Interview | Only if there are unresolved concerns | Not stated by Police Now | A detailed interview with an Investigating Officer |
| Referees interviewed | No | Not stated by Police Now | Yes |
| Review period | 10 years | Not stated on the pages we read | 7 years at most |
| When on the CT route | Before the programme starts | Listed for CT on Police Now's vetting page | During the academy, before joining the CT team |
Where a cell says "not stated", neither Police Now's pages nor the Cabinet Office summary we read gave the detail for that level. The vetting authority will tell you what it needs when you reach that stage.
Preparing for Counter Terrorism vetting
You cannot pass vetting in advance, but you can make it smoother. Before you apply:
- Write out ten years of addresses with dates and the periods you spent abroad and why.
- Get your money in order. Check your credit file, clear or arrange any arrears and keep up any repayment plan. DV includes a full review of your finances.
- List family members and partners with dates of birth and nationalities. Managed vetting and DV look at family and associates.
- List any police contact, including cautions and anything as a juvenile. Police Now says all convictions and cautions must be declared.
- Review your social media. Police vetting includes open-source checks. See our social media checks guide.
- Think about referees who have known you for a long time and can talk about your character.
Our free vetting evidence builder helps you put this in order and flags the areas a vetting officer is likely to ask about. The optional Vetting Prep Report (£19.99) adds a document checklist, likely questions and a draft disclosure paragraph. Neither can predict a vetting decision.
How selection works
Selection for Counter Terrorism uses Police Now's standard stages, with the detective version of the assessment centre. The Met job description lists them:
- Online application.
- Online immersive assessment: untimed, about 45 minutes, with feedback for everyone. See the immersive assessment guide.
- Virtual assessment centre: for the detective routes, crime case interactions, an investigative report, an interview and a debrief. See the assessment centre guide.
- Conditional offer.
- Pre-employment checks: a face-to-face Professionalism in Policing meeting, a fitness test, a medical and vetting.
Police Now assesses against its own ten competencies and four values, not the College of Policing's framework. One of them, motivational alignment, asks you to show you understand Police Now's mission. See Police Now competencies and values.
The 13-week academy and the NIE
Police Now's Counter Terrorism page describes the academy as a thirteen-week intensive course covering law, investigative techniques, evidence gathering and interview skills. Its May 2026 news on the first CT cohort describes the 2024 academy as an initial 13-week residential course in core policing and investigative skills and the National Investigators' Exam.
Managed vetting and Developed Vetting run during the academy and Police Now says both must be passed before you join the counter terrorism team.
The National Investigators' Exam (NIE) is the College of Policing's exam for trainee detectives. Police Now calls it a key milestone towards becoming a fully qualified detective constable in a counter terrorism unit. Its pages differ on timing: the partner page puts it at the end of the academy, while the programme and Counter Terrorism pages list it after force integration. For format, pass mark and dates see the NIE hub and the NIE on direct entry detective routes.
The two years, stage by stage
Police Now's Counter Terrorism page sets out eight stages:
| Stage | Name | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Offer accepted | Pre-employment checks, including recruitment vetting and the counter terrorist check |
| 2 | Pre-academy preparation | Onboarding and preparation sessions |
| 3 | Police Now Academy | 13 weeks: law, investigative techniques, evidence gathering and interview skills. Managed vetting and Developed Vetting run during this stage |
| 4 | Force integration | Join the force as a trainee detective. The 2024 cohort gained frontline experience and worked in CID teams |
| 5 | National Investigators' Exam | The College of Policing exam every trainee detective must pass. Police Now calls it a key milestone |
| 6 | Casework and development | Investigations and PIP development |
| 7 | Specialist training | Counter terrorism work begins in year two. The 2024 Met cohort moved to Specialist Operations (SO15) |
| 8 | Graduation and progression | Move into the CT team immediately or soon after the programme ends |
You spend year one learning to investigate in the force, as every trainee detective does. Police Now's November 2024 news says detective recruits reach independent patrol status within ten weeks of joining their force after the academy and reach full operational competence and PIP2 by the end of the two years. For how the investigator levels work, see PIP1 vs PIP2 explained.
What counter terrorism officers do
Police Now's Counter Terrorism page and job description describe the work as:
- interpreting intelligence, connecting details and recognising threats;
- working with policing and security partners to combine intelligence, analysis and evidence;
- coordinating with national intelligence services, armed policing and specialist teams to plan responses to attacks;
- gathering intelligence on emerging extremist groups;
- engaging with communities to build trust and spot concerns early;
- supporting de-radicalisation work and preventing vulnerable people being drawn into extremism;
- bringing offenders to justice and protecting the public and critical places.
Much of this is investigative and office-based work: building cases from intelligence, digital material and financial enquiries. Police Now does not describe the shift patterns or the exact unit you would join beyond the examples in its news (SO15 in the Met).
Fitness and medical
The fitness test and medical are part of the pre-employment checks after a conditional offer, as on every Police Now route. Police Now's fitness guide (September 2023) sets the 15-metre bleep test at level 5.4, with six weeks between attempts and up to three attempts. Police Now's newer pages say "fitness test" without a level, so check your offer letter.
The medical follows the Home Office medical standards for entry into policing, which Police Now links from its help hub. The help hub gives a BMI range of 18 to 30; Police Now's 2023 medical guide says the Met accepts up to 32 and may measure body fat. No Police Now page we read sets a separate fitness standard for Counter Terrorism.
If the bleep test worries you, start now with the free 15m bleep test simulator and the bleep test training plan.
An illustrative timeline to a March 2028 start
Police Now has not published dates for the March 2028 window. This timeline puts its published stages in order around a March 2028 start. Only the start month and the order of stages are Police Now's; the spacing is our estimate.
| When | What happens | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Now to early 2027 | Check nationality and residence; build your vetting file; train for the bleep test; practise scenarios and written reports | Our suggestion |
| Early 2027 | Window opens: online application, then the immersive assessment | Police Now FAQ: applications open early next year |
| Weeks after applying | Virtual assessment centre; a conditional offer can come within two to three weeks of applying | Police Now: how long does the process take |
| Following months | Pre-employment checks: recruitment vetting, counter terrorist check, medical, fitness and the Professionalism in Policing meeting | Police Now vetting page: vetting takes around one to three months |
| March 2028 | Academy starts (13 weeks). Managed vetting and Developed Vetting during the academy. Paid from day one | Police Now Counter Terrorism page |
| Mid 2028 to early 2029 | Force integration as a trainee detective; the NIE; casework | Police Now Counter Terrorism page |
| 2029 (year two) | Counter terrorism work begins | Police Now Counter Terrorism page |
| March 2030 | End of the two-year programme; move into the CT team immediately or soon after | Police Now Counter Terrorism page |
For more on each stage, see the Police Now application process guide.
Situations that need care on the Counter Terrorism route
These are the circumstances CT applicants most often need to think about. The middle column is what Police Now's pages say; the right-hand column is our practical suggestion. None of it predicts a vetting decision, which is made by the force and the vetting authority.
| Situation | What Police Now's pages say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dual nationality | The Met job description says dual nationals with a British element may be considered in approved circumstances | Say so at application and ask Police Now which forces accept it |
| Time living abroad in the last ten years | The ten-year residence rule has "some exemptions"; Police Now does not list them | Ask before applying; have dates, addresses and the reason for each stay ready |
| Close family abroad or not British | Managed vetting and DV look at family members; Police Now does not say this is a bar | Declare everyone the forms ask for; do not leave relatives out |
| Debt or missed payments | Police Now's eligibility page: an outstanding CCJ, bankruptcy in the last three years or a current IVA may make you ineligible. DV adds a full finance review | Clear arrears or agree a plan and keep to it; check your credit file |
| Past drug use | Police Now: current illegal drug use is a bar. Past use is not listed as an automatic bar | Declare it honestly with dates. See past drug use and vetting |
| Cautions or convictions | All must be declared, including as a juvenile. Some are automatic bars (for example a custodial sentence) | See criminal records and police vetting |
| Political or campaigning activity | Police Now: ordinary party membership is allowed; an active political role or membership of a proscribed group is not | Declare the memberships the forms ask about |
The rule that matters in every case: declare it. Police Now's pages repeat that convictions, cautions and business interests must be declared. See common vetting mistakes.
Pay: Met and West Midlands Police
Police Now does not pay you; your force does, from day one, including the academy. Pay follows the national constable scale plus any location pay. Our figures use the 2026/27 scale (from 1 September 2026).
- Met: £43,688 in year one. That is pay point 2 (£33,609) plus London Weighting and the London Allowance (£10,079 together). The Met said on 12 October 2026 that new recruits start on "more than £43,000".
- West Midlands Police: £32,255 in year one on point 1, with no location pay.
| Year | Met pay point | Met gross | Met take-home a month | West Midlands gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Point 2 | £43,688 | £2,470 | £32,255 |
| Year 2 | Point 3 | £45,051 | £2,505 | £33,609 |
| Year 3 | Point 4 | £46,414 | £2,564 | £34,972 |
| Year 4 | Point 5 | £49,137 | £2,681 | £36,335 |
| Year 5 | Point 6 | £54,623 | £2,940 | £39,058 |
| Year 6 | Point 7 | £62,094 | £3,237 | £44,544 |
| Year 7 | Point 7 | £62,094 | £3,237 | £52,015 |
Take-home is our estimate after income tax, National Insurance, the police pension (12.88% to 14.22% by band), a Plan 2 student loan and Federation subscriptions. It assumes one pay point a year and no overtime. Use the Police Now salary calculator for your own loan plan.
Police Now's Met job description says £42,210 and its Counter Terrorism page gives a range of £31,164 to £42,210. Both match the 2025/26 scale (point 2 £32,472 plus London Weighting £3,150 and the London Allowance £6,588 for the Met; point 1 £31,164 elsewhere). The 3.5% award from 1 September 2026 lifted both. The Met figure also shows the Met starts Police Now recruits on point 2, not point 1.
As a sergeant, the Met figure on 2026/27 rates would be £65,522 (sergeant point 2 plus the same location pay). For the full picture, see Police Now salary.
After the two years
Police Now says Counter Terrorism graduates progress into the CT team immediately or soon after the programme ends and its May 2026 news says the first cohort will stay in Counter Terrorism Policing. Police Now says detective recruits reach full operational competence and PIP2 by the end of the two years; PIP2 sign-off needs an NIE pass.
From there, the usual options for any detective constable apply:
- Stay and specialise within counter terrorism policing.
- Promotion: the sergeant exam and board. See our promotion guides.
- Move to other detective work through your force's internal processes.
- Leave policing: Police Now's own figure is that 87% of its alumni remain in policing. That is Police Now's claim and has not been independently checked.
Police Now does not publish a minimum period you must stay in counter terrorism after the programme, or any bond or repayment terms. We found none, which is not the same as there being none: ask.
If you are not eligible for Counter Terrorism
If the nationality or residence rule rules you out, there are other routes into detective work:
- Police Now Detective or Economic Crime, with three years' residence and settled status or ILR. See the detective programme guide.
- A force's own detective entry through the national process. See direct entry detective interview questions.
- Join as a constable and specialise later. Forces fill specialist posts from serving officers through their own selection; check with the force you join.
See which forces have detective routes open now on our police jobs page.
Counter Terrorism vs Detective vs Economic Crime
| Counter Terrorism | Detective | Economic Crime | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Terrorism: intelligence, investigation, prevention and protective security | Serious crime in CID and specialist teams | Fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and financial exploitation |
| Academy | 13 weeks | 13 weeks | Similar structure to Detective (Police Now's programme page) |
| NIE | Yes | Yes | Not stated on the Economic Crime pages; same structure as Detective |
| Nationality | UK national (dual with British element considered) | Settled status or ILR | British citizen, settled or leave to remain (Dorset job description) |
| Residence | 5 to 10 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Highest vetting | Developed Vetting | Counter terrorist check; managed vetting in some forces | Counter terrorist check and managed vetting in some forces |
| Recent forces | Met; West Midlands; Greater Manchester (North West) | North Wales (March 2027); Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Humberside, Wiltshire and West Midlands (March 2025) | City of London (2025 pilot); Dorset (March 2027) |
If you do not meet the nationality or residency rules for Counter Terrorism, the Detective and Economic Crime routes use the same academy with Police Now's standard rules. See the detective programme guide and Police Now Economic Crime.
Who the Counter Terrorism route suits
It tends to suit graduates who:
- meet the UK nationality and residence rules without exceptions;
- are comfortable with a deep look at their family, finances and history and have nothing they would want to hide;
- enjoy analytical work: sifting information, spotting patterns and building cases;
- want a specialist career early, rather than general policing first;
- can accept a year of general detective work before the CT role starts.
It is a poor fit if you want to stay in uniform on the street, or if long residence abroad, complex finances or close ties overseas would make Developed Vetting slow or uncertain. If you are unsure whether a graduate route suits you at all, compare Police Now vs DHEP vs PCDA and read is Police Now worth it?
How to prepare for the next window
- Check you meet the CT rules on nationality and residence before anything else.
- Start your vetting file now: ten years of addresses, finances, family and any police contact.
- Train for the bleep test. The fitness test comes after the offer. See how to train for level 5.4.
- Practise scenario questions with the free Police Now practice test (it has a Detective set).
- Practise an investigative report against the clock with our written exercise examples.
- Prepare real examples for the interview, including why counter terrorism and why Police Now. See Police Now interview questions.
- Read up on the NIE so the academy is not your first sight of it: NIE hub.
Practice interview prompts for the Counter Terrorism route
These prompts are original PolicePay practice material, not Police Now's questions. Police Now does not publish its interview questions. Each prompt is mapped to the Police Now competency it most closely tests.
| Prompt | What a strong answer covers | Competency |
|---|---|---|
| Why counter terrorism? | Why this specialism rather than Detective or Neighbourhood; what you know about the work; why now | Motivational alignment |
| Why Police Now? | What the programme gives you that a force route would not; Police Now's mission in your own words | Motivational alignment |
| A time you handled confidential information | What it was, how you protected it, what you would do if someone pushed you to share it | Take ownership |
| A time you spotted a pattern others missed | The information you had, how you analysed it, what you did and what changed | Analyse critically |
| A time you worked with people from another organisation | Shared goal, different priorities, how you kept it moving | Collaborate |
| A time you changed your view after new information | What you believed, what you learned, how you adjusted | Innovative and open-minded |
| Building trust with a community wary of police | Who, what got in the way, what you did, what you learned | Culturally aware |
| Staying effective under sustained pressure | Workload or setbacks, how you coped, what support you used | Resilient |
Answer each one out loud in two to three minutes, using a real example and the STAR shape (situation, task, action, result). Check a written-out answer with the free STAR answer checker and see Police Now interview questions for 40 more.
Do not overstate what you know about counter terrorism operations and never share anything you learned in confidence in another job. Showing you can keep information safe is part of the answer.
Glossary: Counter Terrorism terms you will meet
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CTP | Counter Terrorism Policing: the national network of police counter terrorism units |
| CTU and CTIU | Counter terrorism units and counter terrorism intelligence units. Police Now's page says there are eleven regional units |
| SO15 | The Met's Specialist Operations Counter Terrorism Command, where Police Now's first CT cohort moved |
| CTC | Counter Terrorist Check: national security vetting level below SC; reviewed every 10 years |
| MV | Managed vetting: police vetting with an enhanced look at family and finances |
| SC | Security Check: the first level of national security vetting in Police Now's vetting list |
| DV | Developed Vetting: the highest level of national security vetting; reviewed after 7 years at most |
| NIE | National Investigators' Exam: the College of Policing exam for trainee detectives |
| PIP1 and PIP2 | Professionalising Investigation Programme levels: volume crime (PIP1) and serious and complex investigation (PIP2) |
Vetting level descriptions follow Police Now's vetting page and the Cabinet Office's published clearance levels. For PIP, see PIP1 vs PIP2 explained.
Myths about Police Now Counter Terrorism
- "You go straight into counter terrorism." No. Police Now says CT work begins in year two, after the academy and force integration.
- "Any settled status is enough." One section of Police Now's CT page says so, but the Met job description requires UK nationality. Rely on the job description.
- "Developed Vetting is done before you start." Only recruitment vetting and the counter terrorist check are. Managed vetting and DV run during the academy.
- "It pays more than other Police Now routes." Pay depends on the force, not the specialism. The Met pays more because of London pay and the point 2 start.
- "There is no exam." CT recruits sit the National Investigators' Exam like every trainee detective.
Questions to ask Police Now before you apply
- Which forces offer Counter Terrorism in this window and what is the residence rule for each?
- Which exemptions to the ten-year residence rule apply to me?
- What happens if I do not pass Developed Vetting during the academy? Can I move to another route?
- When exactly do I sit the NIE and what support is there for a resit?
- Which unit would I join in year two and where is it based?
- What pay point does the force start me on?
What we could not verify
- Which residence rule (five or ten years) West Midlands Police applies; Police Now's pages differ.
- The full list of exemptions to the ten-year residence rule.
- How long Developed Vetting takes during the academy and what happens if it is not granted.
- How many Counter Terrorism places each window offers. Police Now's figures are for past intakes only and the July 2026 cohort was not split by specialism.
- Which forces will offer Counter Terrorism in the March 2028 window.
- Whether a driving licence is needed outside London; the Met job description does not mention one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Police Now Counter Terrorism programme?
It is one of the four specialisms on Police Now's two-year National Graduate Programme. Recruits train as detectives first, at a 13-week academy, sit the National Investigators' Exam and work in their force, then begin counter terrorism work in year two. Police Now says graduates move into the counter terrorism team immediately or soon after the programme.
Are Police Now Counter Terrorism applications open?
No. The March 2027 entry has closed. Police Now says applications for the March 2028 start open early next year and you can register interest by region. The March 2027 Counter Terrorism role was with the Metropolitan Police Service. Police Now has not said which forces will offer Counter Terrorism in the March 2028 window.
Do you have to be British to join Police Now Counter Terrorism?
Police Now's March 2027 Met job description says you must be a UK national and that dual nationals where one element is British may be considered in approved circumstances. Its Counter Terrorism page lists indefinite leave to remain or settled status in one place and British citizenship in another, so treat UK nationality as the rule and check the job description for your window.
How many years do you need to have lived in the UK?
The Met job description says the past ten years, with some exemptions. Police Now's Counter Terrorism page says five years for West Midlands Police and ten for the Met and also says ten years for counter terrorism work generally. Expect ten unless your force's job description says otherwise.
What vetting does Police Now Counter Terrorism need?
Recruitment vetting and a counter terrorist check before the programme starts, then managed vetting and Developed Vetting during the academy. Police Now says both must be passed before you join the counter terrorism team. Its vetting page also lists Security Check for Counter Terrorism. Developed Vetting is the highest level of national security vetting.
How much does Police Now Counter Terrorism pay?
Pay is set by the force. In the Met, a new constable on pay point 2 with London Weighting and the London Allowance receives £43,688 a year on 2026/27 rates; the Met said on 12 October 2026 that new recruits start on more than £43,000. Police Now's Met job description gives £42,210, which matches the same package on 2025/26 rates. At West Midlands Police, point 1 is £32,255 with no location pay.
How long is the Police Now Counter Terrorism academy?
Thirteen weeks, the same as the Detective academy. It covers law, investigative techniques, evidence gathering and interview skills. Police Now's July 2026 cohort news says recruits complete up to 13 weeks of training before joining their force.
Do Police Now Counter Terrorism recruits sit the NIE?
Yes. The National Investigators' Exam is a stage on Police Now's Counter Terrorism page, described as a key milestone towards becoming a fully qualified detective constable in a counter terrorism unit. Police Now's May 2026 graduation news says the first cohort's academy covered the NIE.
Where do Police Now Counter Terrorism officers work?
In counter terrorism units within the host force. Police Now's May 2026 news says the first Met cohort moved to the Met's Specialist Operations unit, SO15. The 2025 intake also placed officers with Counter Terrorism Policing in the West Midlands and the North West (through Greater Manchester Police).
Can I fail Developed Vetting and stay on the programme?
Police Now says managed vetting and Developed Vetting must be passed before you join the counter terrorism team. It does not publish what happens if you do not pass, for example whether you could move to another route. Ask Police Now and the force before you accept an offer.
Do I need a driving licence for Police Now Counter Terrorism?
The March 2027 Met job description does not mention a driving licence. Police Now's eligibility rules say the Met does not need one. Other forces set their own rule, so check the job description for the force you apply to.
How competitive is Police Now Counter Terrorism?
Police Now said in November 2024 that its counter terrorism stream had received over 1,000 applications, about 19 per place. That is Police Now's own figure for that round; it does not publish figures for every window.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 21 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism : 13-week academy; eight stages; CT work in year two; 5 years' residence for West Midlands, 10 for the Met; ILR or settled status in one section, British citizenship and 10 years in another; Developed Vetting and CT checks; managed and Developed Vetting during the academy; eleven regional CT units; starting salary £31,164 to £42,210 (read 21 October 2026) (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism job description (Metropolitan Police, March 2027) : UK national, dual nationals considered; 10 years' UK residence; Developed Vetting; £42,210 starting salary; 22 days' leave rising to 30; Police Pension Scheme (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now: Vetting process : vetting levels by specialism; vetting takes around one to three months (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now: National Graduate Programme : four specialisms; CT follows a similar structure to Detective; March 2028 window opens early next year (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now: When will applications next open? : applications open early next year for a March 2028 start (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now application portal (March 2027) : March 2027 entry closed (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now news: almost 230 trainee detectives attested (March 2024) : first CT stream: 75 Met recruits (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now news: counter terrorism workforce bolstered (12 November 2024) : pilot extended to North West and West Midlands; over 1,000 CT applications, about 19 per place (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now news: over 145 trainee detectives attested (17 March 2025) : CT: Met 8, West Midlands 45, Greater Manchester 8 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now news: first counter terrorism cohort graduates (22 May 2026) : 13-week academy and NIE; CID then SO15; third cohort July 2026 with the Met and West Midlands (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Now news: recruits take oath (21 July 2026) : 124 Neighbourhood and Counter Terrorism recruits for the Met and West Midlands (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Cabinet Office: National security vetting clearance levels (GOV.UK) : what Developed Vetting and the Counter Terrorist Check involve; review periods (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police: recruitment release, 12 October 2026 : "a starting salary of more than £43,000" (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 011/2026: Annex F and Annex U : 2025/26 pay points and London pay, used to explain Police Now's £42,210 (accessed 21 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Now, the College of Policing or any police force. It does not recruit or assess applicants. Police Now sets its own eligibility, selection and programme content and changes them between cohorts: check Police Now's own pages and your invitation before relying on anything here. Practice material on this page is original PolicePay material, not Police Now's. Details are as checked on 21 October 2026.