Police Now Detective
Programme Explained
Police Now's detective routes take graduates straight into investigation: a 13-week academy, the National Investigators' Exam within the first three months, a short spell on response, then two years working towards PIP2 and confirmation as a detective. This guide covers the Detective, Counter Terrorism and Economic Crime specialisms, how they compare with a force's own detective entry and what Police Now's figures do and do not show. Read on 19 October 2026.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 19 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
The former National Detective Programme (launched 2019) is now the Detective specialism of Police Now's two-year National Graduate Programme, alongside Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism, which follow the same structure. You join a partner force as a paid, warranted trainee detective constable, train at a 13-week academy, sit the National Investigators' Exam at its end, reach independent patrol within about 10 weeks in force and complete PIP1 then PIP2, with confirmation as a detective expected by the end. Counter Terrorism adds UK nationality, longer residency and Developed Vetting.
On 19 October 2026 we read Police Now's Detective, Counter Terrorism and Economic Crime pages, the three March 2027 job descriptions, its partner page, its detective assessment pages, its vetting page and three news releases (the March 2024 detective cohort, the July 2026 cohort and the June 2026 NIE results). NIE facts come from the College of Policing's 2026 candidate handbook and published results, through our NIE data. Police Now's pages differ in places (academy length, NIE timing, pay figures, Counter Terrorism nationality wording); we show both versions where they do.
The three Police Now detective routes
Police Now's National Graduate Programme has four specialisms. Neighbourhood is the uniformed community route. The other three are detective routes with the same core structure: a 13-week academy, the National Investigators' Exam, then casework and development over two years.
| Specialism | Focus, as Police Now describes it | Recent roles | Vetting (Police Now vetting page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detective | Investigation of serious crime, protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice; specialist areas such as fraud, violence and organised crime | North Wales Police (March 2027 role) | Recruitment vetting and a counter terrorism check; management vetting in some forces |
| Economic Crime | Fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and financial exploitation, with a focus on identifying offenders proactively | Dorset Police (March 2027 role) | Recruitment vetting; counter terrorism check and management vetting depending on force |
| Counter Terrorism | Detective training first; counter terrorism work from year two | Metropolitan Police (March 2027 role); Met and West Midlands Police (July 2026 cohort) | Up to Developed Vetting, completed during the academy |
The forces column shows only the roles Police Now listed for the closed March 2027 entry and the July 2026 cohort. It is not a guide to the next window.
What replaced the National Detective Programme
Police Now launched its National Detective Programme in 2019, recruiting graduates directly into investigative roles. Its March 2024 news release describes the fifth cohort: 229 trainee detective constables attested at its academy on 18 March 2024, for nine forces.
Today Police Now presents everything as one National Graduate Programme with specialisms. When we checked on 19 October 2026, the old National Detective Programme web address showed the Detective specialism page. The programme page says the Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism specialisms follow a structure similar to the Detective pathway. The national joiningthepolice.co.uk site still uses the older programme names.
| Old name | Current name |
|---|---|
| National Detective Programme (NDP), launched 2019 | National Graduate Programme: Detective specialism |
| Counter terrorism stream (first cohort of 75 for the Met, March 2024) | Counter Terrorism specialism |
| None | Economic Crime specialism (Dorset Police roles for March 2027) |
Police Now's Detective page says it has recruited more than 1,000 detectives since the programme's launch. That is its own figure.
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 detective job description says applications for the March 2028 programme will open at a future date. Police Now has also run intakes outside March: its July 2026 cohort included Counter Terrorism recruits for the Met and West Midlands Police. For every stage and its timings, see the Police Now application process.
Eligibility: what is different for the detective routes
The general rules apply to all specialisms: a First, 2:1 or 2:2 in any subject other than professional policing, Level 3 qualifications equivalent to two A levels, three years' UK residence, indefinite leave to remain or settled status, and no previous attested service. See Police Now eligibility. What changes:
- Driving licence: the March 2027 Detective job description (North Wales) asked for a full UK manual licence, except for London forces. The Counter Terrorism role in the Met did not need one.
- Vetting: Police Now's vetting page says a counter terrorism check applies to Detective roles and management vetting can apply to Detective and Economic Crime in some forces. Counter Terrorism adds Security Check and Developed Vetting.
- Counter Terrorism nationality and residency: covered in the Counter Terrorism section; these are the strictest rules in the programme.
- Welsh language: North Wales, which had the March 2027 Detective role, asks for Welsh Level 2 by final offer, according to Police Now's FAQ.
How selection differs for the detective routes
The stages are the same as for Neighbourhood: an online application, an untimed online immersive assessment and a half-day virtual assessment centre. The content differs.
- Immersive assessment: about 45 minutes plus a 10-minute practice. Police Now says the detective version is designed to show the variety of people and spaces a detective may work with.
- Assessment centre: crime case interactions (a role play with a suspect and with a community member worried about a victim's welfare, assessing rapport, risk identification and safeguarding), an investigative report (a written exercise), a one-to-one interview and a debrief.
- Specialism research: Police Now asks Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism candidates to familiarise themselves with that work before the centre.
- Not a knowledge test: Police Now says the day tests potential, not current policing knowledge and there are no right or wrong answers.
Police Now's detective assessment centre page also shows a second exercise list that matches the Neighbourhood centre (interview, incident summary, community engagement interactions, team meeting, debrief). Your handbook will say which applies. Full preparation, with original practice prompts, is in Police Now assessment centre: how to prepare; for written practice, see written exercise examples.
Try one out loud. Answer a practice question free and get a scored result in about a minute. No account. Practise in the free police mock interview
The 13-week detective academy
Police Now's Detective page describes a thirteen-week intensive training programme covering investigative techniques, law, interview skills and evidence gathering. Its sample day includes public protection incident management, crime scene management and evidence handling, suspect interviewing, problem solving, NIE revision and fitness in an on-site gym.
- Length: 13 weeks on the Detective page, partner page and June 2026 news; other Police Now text says twelve and the July 2026 news says up to 13.
- Format: mostly residential at a conference venue, with weekends usually at home (Police Now FAQ).
- Status and pay: you are attested as a constable and paid by your force from day one, including at the academy.
- Who teaches: syndicate leads, serving sergeants and inspectors seconded from partner forces, one for every ten officers recruited, usually from the force the participants join (partner page).
- Counter Terrorism: management vetting and Developed Vetting are completed during the academy.
The National Investigators' Exam (NIE)
The NIE is the College of Policing's legal knowledge exam for trainee investigators and a pass is needed before PIP2 can be completed. It is the same exam whatever your route:
- Format: 80 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, online, any time 8am to 8pm on the day.
- Marking: 10 questions are removed at marking, so you are scored on 70. The pass mark is 39 of 70 (55.7%); 60 or more earns the exceptional grade.
- Validity: a pass lasts three years less one day.
- If you fail: If you fail, you can resit at the next sitting, subject to your force or organisation's policy. You are not entered automatically: you register again through AIMS before the deadline.
When Police Now trainees sit it. Police Now's partner page says detectives sit the NIE at the end of the 13-week academy, within the first three months of the programme and its June 2026 news calls sitting the NIE a key part of the academy. Its programme page lists the NIE after force integration. Either way it comes far earlier than for most constables moving into CID. Police Now does not say which national sitting its cohorts use.
Dates. The next national sitting is on Tuesday, 17 November 2026, with registration closing at 6pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 (forces can set an earlier internal deadline). The College had not published 2027 or 2028 NIE dates when we checked. A March 2028 cohort would sit in 2028. See the NIE hub and the NIE on direct entry detective routes, which compares when Police Now, detective DHEP and force programmes schedule it.
Force integration, response and independent patrol
After the academy you join your force as a trainee detective. Police Now's partner page says participants first complete an immersion period on the force's response team and are expected to reach independent patrol status within 10 weeks of joining the force. Its Detective page's sample day from this period includes night shifts, briefings, patrolling and responding to a domestic assault, supporting the victim and handing the case over.
For the rest of the programme, the partner page says participants work predominantly within CID teams. Police Now's March 2024 release also says officers are expected to achieve full operational competence by the end of the programme.
PIP1 and PIP2
The Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) is the College of Policing's set of investigator levels. PIP1 covers priority and volume crime; PIP2 covers serious and complex investigations and needs an NIE pass plus a workplace portfolio. Under the College's PIP policy, only people signed off at PIP2 can use the title substantive detective.
Police Now's partner page says participants complete PIP1 and PIP2 over the first and second years of the programme, alongside working towards full operational competence. Its March 2024 release lists PIP2 among what officers are expected to achieve by the end. For the levels in more detail, see PIP1 vs PIP2 explained.
Rotations, casework and specialist training
The March 2027 Detective job description (North Wales) said the programme rotates you across investigative teams, including safeguarding, serious and organised crime and specialist investigations. Police Now's Detective page lists casework and development (investigating serious and complex crime, working with victims and witnesses) and then specialist training in areas such as cybercrime, counter terrorism or safeguarding.
Its sample "detective rotation" day describes work on an attempted murder investigation under a senior investigating officer: contacting witnesses, identifying people on CCTV and finding potential evidence. That is Police Now's illustration and rotations depend on the force.
Confirmation as a detective
Police Now's partner page says it expects participants to be confirmed in rank as detectives by the end of the two years. The College's PIP policy sets what that needs: an NIE pass, a PIP2 workplace portfolio and sign-off. Police Now's pages do not say what happens to a participant who has not passed the NIE or completed PIP2 by the end; the College's handbook leaves resits to force policy. See what happens if you fail the NIE.
You also finish with a policing qualification. The programme page says level 6 or level 7 depending on the programme; the March 2024 release said that cohort would receive a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice from Liverpool John Moores University.
The two years in order
| Step | Stage | What happens | Police Now source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Offer accepted | Pre-employment checks and onboarding | Detective page |
| 2 | Onboarding | Induction event and virtual preparation sessions | Detective and Counter Terrorism pages |
| 3 | Police Now Academy | 13 weeks: investigative techniques, law, interviewing and evidence gathering | Detective page; partner page |
| 4 | National Investigators' Exam | At the end of the academy, within the first three months | Partner page; June 2026 news |
| 5 | Force integration and response immersion | Join your force as a trainee detective; time on a response team; independent patrol status expected within 10 weeks of joining the force | Partner page; detective page |
| 6 | Casework and development | Mainly in CID teams; rotations across investigative teams; PIP1 in year one, PIP2 in year two | Partner page; detective job description |
| 7 | Specialist training | Areas such as cybercrime, counter terrorism or safeguarding | Detective page |
| 8 | Graduation | Expected to be confirmed in rank as a detective by the end of the two years; qualification awarded | Partner page; detective page |
Police Now's pages place the NIE slightly differently (end of the academy on the partner page, after force integration on the programme page). Treat the order as indicative and confirm with Police Now for your cohort.
An illustrative detective timeline for a March 2028 start
Built only from the durations Police Now publishes. It is illustrative: Police Now has not published a March 2028 timetable and the College has not published 2028 NIE dates.
| Milestone | Police Now's stated timing | What it could mean |
|---|---|---|
| Academy | 13 weeks | March to about June 2028 |
| NIE | At the end of the academy, within the first three months | Mid 2028, at whichever national sitting the cohort uses |
| Independent patrol status | Within 10 weeks of joining the force | About late summer 2028 |
| PIP1 | First year | By about March 2029 |
| PIP2 and confirmation in rank | Second year; confirmation expected by the end | By about March 2030 |
| Counter Terrorism work (CT route only) | Year two | From about spring 2029 |
The Counter Terrorism specialism
Police Now's first counter terrorism stream, 75 recruits for Counter Terrorism Policing in the Met, attested in March 2024, with counter terrorism training in their second year. The July 2026 cohort of 124 recruits combined Neighbourhood and Counter Terrorism officers for the Met and West Midlands Police; Police Now said it was only the second cohort at its academy to do so.
Eligibility. Police Now's pages are not fully consistent, so read all three:
- Met job description (March 2027): UK national; dual nationals with a British element may be considered in approved circumstances; resident in the UK for the past ten years, with some exemptions.
- Counter Terrorism page: at least five years' UK residence for West Midlands Police and ten for the Met, alongside indefinite leave to remain or settled status. A separate section of the same page says ten years' continuous residence and British citizenship.
- Eligibility page: Counter Terrorism may be restricted to UK or dual nationals and typically needs ten years' residence.
Vetting. Recruitment vetting and counter terrorism checks must be passed before the programme starts; management vetting and Developed Vetting are completed during the academy. Developed Vetting is the highest level of national security vetting, with detailed background checks, an interview and character references. See our vetting levels guide.
The work. Police Now says CT work begins in year two and graduates move into the CT team immediately or soon after. Its Counter Terrorism page describes the work as coordinating with intelligence services and armed policing, engaging communities, gathering intelligence on extremist groups, supporting de-radicalisation and investigations, forensics, digital exploitation, financial enquiries and communications. It refers to eleven regional counter terrorism units and intelligence units across the UK.
For the cohorts so far, the vetting levels and Met pay in full, see our Police Now Counter Terrorism guide.
The Economic Crime specialism
Economic Crime is the newest detective route. For the March 2027 entry Police Now listed it with Dorset Police, with a starting salary of £31,164 (the 2025/26 rate; £32,255 on our figures from September 2026, £32,256 as announced).
What the work involves, per Police Now. The Dorset job description describes protecting individuals, businesses and communities from fraud, cybercrime and financial exploitation, through complex investigations into fraud, money laundering and organised criminal networks, with a focus on identifying offenders proactively and preventing further harm. Police Now's Economic Crime page lists tax evasion, money laundering, online fraud (such as fake sales or romance scams), identity fraud and bribery and corruption and names City of London Police as the national lead force for economic crime.
Neither Economic Crime page we read mentions the academy length, the NIE or PIP. Police Now's programme page says the route follows a structure similar to the Detective pathway, so expect the same milestones, but confirm with Police Now. The vetting page says management vetting and the counter terrorism check may apply depending on the force.
For the City of London pilot, the Dorset role and pay on 2026/27 rates, see our Police Now Economic Crime guide.
Police Now detective vs a force's own detective entry
Forces run their own detective pathways, most commonly detective DHEP for graduates, sometimes called direct entry detective. The College of Policing says forces typically offer a detective degree holder programme and, in some forces, a detective police constable entry programme. Both routes lead to the same NIE and PIP2.
| Police Now detective routes | Force detective DHEP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Police Now (a charity) with the partner force | The force, with a university partner |
| Degree | First, 2:1 or 2:2 in any subject except professional policing | A level 6 degree; the national rules set no class (forces can) |
| Selection | Police Now's online application, immersive assessment and virtual assessment centre, against its own competencies | National application form, national sift, online assessment process and in-person force interview (regulation 10(1)(eb)), against the College's CVF; forces can add approved assessments |
| Start | 13-week residential-style academy with a national cohort | Force and university training, timetable set locally |
| NIE timing | At the end of the academy | Varies by force: from year one to year two |
| Response time | Immersion on a response team; independent patrol status expected within 10 weeks of joining the force | Set by the force; the College's general milestone is tutored patrol within 10 months |
| PIP | PIP1 in year one, PIP2 in year two; confirmation in rank expected by the end | PIP2 sign-off after the NIE pass and a workplace portfolio; timing set by the force |
| Qualification | Level 6 or level 7 policing qualification depending on programme (2024 cohort: LJMU graduate diploma) | Graduate diploma in professional policing practice, 120 credits at level 6 |
| Probation | Programme ends on completing probation | Two years |
| Support | Police Now Performance and Development Coach, plus tutor and force colleagues | Force tutor and university; any NIE study support is a force decision |
| Intakes and forces | National windows; a few forces per specialism each round | Force by force, whenever the force opens the route |
The DHEP column comes from our checked DHEP guide and NIE on direct entry routes. Our older direct entry detective overview covers the force route more generally. For the full graduate comparison, see Police Now vs DHEP vs PCDA.
Pay on the detective routes
You are paid on your force's constable scale from day one, including at the academy. A detective constable is paid the same as any constable: there is no national detective allowance in Annex U of the Police Regulations 2003 (Home Office Circular 011/2026). Differences between forces come from London and South East allowances.
| Role or page | Starting salary Police Now gives | Pay year | On 2026/27 rates (PolicePay) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detective, North Wales Police (job description) | £31,164 | 2025/26 | £32,255 |
| Economic Crime, Dorset Police (job description) | £31,164 | 2025/26 | £32,255 |
| Counter Terrorism, Metropolitan Police (job description) | £42,210 | 2025/26 (pay point 2 with London pay) | £43,688 |
| Counter Terrorism page range | £31,164 to £42,210 | 2025/26 | £32,255 to £43,688 |
| National Graduate Programme page range (all specialisms) | £32,256 to £43,689 | 2026/27 | £32,255 to £43,688 |
The figures disagree. The Neighbourhood job description gives £32,256 for North Wales while the Detective one gives £31,164 for the same force. £31,164 appears to be the national constable starting point before the 1 September 2026 pay award; the starting point from that date is £32,255. That is our reading, not Police Now's. For force-by-force figures and take-home pay, see Police Now salary and the Police Now salary calculator and for detective pay across ranks, specialist role pay.
Which forces take Police Now detectives
Roles change every window. What Police Now's pages show:
- March 2027 (closed): Detective in North Wales, Economic Crime in Dorset, Counter Terrorism in the Met.
- July 2026 cohort: Counter Terrorism (with Neighbourhood) for the Met and West Midlands Police.
- March 2024 cohort (229 trainee detectives): Devon and Cornwall (20), Gwent (16), Hertfordshire (22), Humberside (20), Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Policing (75), Staffordshire (39), Thames Valley (12), West Mercia (13) and Wiltshire (12).
So far more forces have taken Police Now detectives in past years than had roles for March 2027. When the March 2028 window opens, the job descriptions will show which forces are recruiting for each route.
Police Now's NIE pass rate claims
Police Now publishes three different NIE comparisons. All are its own figures for its own trainees.
| Where | Police Now's figure | National comparison it gives | What is missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detective specialism page (undated) | 75% first-time NIE pass rate | 60% nationally | No cohort or sitting named |
| Partner with us page | 83% average first-time pass for the 2022 detective cohort | 70% policing national average | No sitting named |
| News release, 26 June 2026 | 86.3% of trainee detectives passed; 4% exceptional grade | 67% national pass rate; exceptional grade at double the national benchmark | No number of candidates; no sitting named; first-time or overall not stated |
For context, the College of Policing publishes overall national pass rates for each sitting: 68.3% in March 2022, 62.6% in November 2022, 63.7% in March 2026 and 63.3% in September 2026. We could find no College overview for June 2026, the sitting the June 2026 release most likely refers to, so we could not check its 67%. The College's September 2026 overview lists Police Now as a nominating organisation but suppresses its numbers.
Police Now trainees sit together, after weeks of taught law with revision built into the academy day. That may help explain a higher cohort rate, but the claims name no candidate numbers or sittings, the national comparison figures cannot be matched to a published College overview and none of it tells you your own chances.
Preparing for the NIE before and during the academy
You do not need policing knowledge to apply and Police Now teaches the law at the academy. But the NIE comes within about three months, so it can help to understand the exam format early. Useful starting points:
- The NIE hub: format, pass mark, dates, pass rates and how the paper splits across the four parts of the Investigators' Manual.
- Free NIE mini mock and free practice questions: original questions, not real or recalled exam questions.
- NIE revision plan for fitting study around shifts after the academy, if you need a resit.
The NIE section of this site also sells an NIE Exam Prep Toolkit: checked original practice questions, timed 80-question mocks weighted like the real paper, and progress by part, for £49.99 for 6 months, or £79.99 with an AI tutor for study. It is a one-off payment, not endorsed by Police Now or the College and not a substitute for the Manual or Police Now's teaching. We do not have pass rates for its users.
Cohort and retention figures (Police Now's own)
Police Now publishes figures about who joins and who stays. They are its own figures, not independently checked, and they describe past cohorts rather than your chances:
- Retention: its partner page says 85% of the second and third detective cohorts stayed in policing (88% of women and 80% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic participants) and that 75% of the third cohort aspire to a senior leadership role.
- March 2024 cohort: 67% female, 15% from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds and 71% had not considered a policing career before hearing about Police Now.
- Scale: more than 1,000 detectives recruited since the programme launched (Detective page).
Government statistics give a wider view: a May 2024 GOV.UK release recorded 1,591 recruits (3% of the total) joining through Police Now across all its programmes between November 2019 and March 2023. It does not split detectives out.
After the two years
The programme ends when you complete probation. You stay with your force, as a detective constable if you have been confirmed in rank. Police Now's Detective page says graduation leads on to opportunities for promotion and specialisation. Its alumni hub offers promotion coaching for sergeant and inspector processes, Fast Track (constable to inspector) information sessions and coaching and help with lateral moves. Promotion itself follows the normal national processes.
If promotion is part of your plan, see how to get promoted to sergeant and Fast Track constable to inspector. Your NIE pass lasts three years less one day, so it matters most in the first years.
Is a Police Now detective route right for you?
Questions worth answering honestly before you choose:
- Do you want to investigate from the start, with only a short spell on response, rather than build uniformed experience first?
- Are you ready to learn criminal law fast enough to sit a national exam within about three months of starting?
- Can you commit to a 13-week academy that is mostly residential?
- Is one of the forces with detective roles in the next window somewhere you would live?
- For Counter Terrorism: do you meet the nationality and residency rules and are you comfortable with Developed Vetting of you and your family?
- Would you rather apply to a specific force's detective DHEP on its own timetable?
If you are still deciding between routes, Police Now vs DHEP vs PCDA sets the options side by side and is Police Now worth it? weighs the programme as a whole.
Myths about Police Now's detective routes
- "You are a detective from day one." You are a trainee detective constable. The title substantive detective comes with PIP2 sign-off, which needs an NIE pass.
- "Detectives never wear uniform." Police Now's detective trainees spend an immersion period on response and are expected to reach independent patrol status.
- "Counter Terrorism is open to anyone with settled status." The Met role asked for UK nationality and ten years' residence; check the job description.
- "Detectives earn a detective allowance." There is no national detective allowance.
- "The National Detective Programme has closed." It continues as the Detective specialism.
- "Police Now's pass rates are official statistics." They are Police Now's own figures.
- "You need a law or criminology degree." Any subject except professional policing, with a 2:2 or above.
Questions to ask Police Now
- Which forces have Detective, Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism roles in this window?
- Which NIE sitting will my cohort take and what support is there for a resit?
- What happens if I have not passed the NIE or completed PIP2 by the end of the two years?
- Which investigative teams will I rotate through in my force?
- What exactly is the qualification for my specialism and who awards it?
- For Counter Terrorism: what residency and nationality rule applies to my force and how long does Developed Vetting take?
- For Economic Crime: is the academy and NIE the same as the Detective route?
- What starting salary will my force pay from my start date, after the latest pay award?
What we could not verify
- Police Now's NIE claims, including the national rates it compares against. No candidate numbers are given and the College suppresses Police Now's counts.
- The exact NIE timing for a cohort: Police Now's pages place it at the end of the academy and after force integration.
- The Economic Crime structure, which Police Now describes as similar to the Detective pathway without giving details.
- Counter Terrorism nationality and residency, where Police Now's own pages differ.
- Detective pay for March 2028, given the conflicting £31,164 and £32,256 figures.
- What happens after an NIE or PIP2 failure on the programme.
- Academy length: 13 weeks on most pages, twelve on others.
- Which forces will have detective roles in the next window.
- Police Now's retention figures for detective cohorts (85% of the second and third cohorts, on its partner page) are its own.
Recruitment window alerts
Get told when Police Now opens the March 2028 window
The March 2027 entry has closed. Police Now says applications for the March 2028 start open early next year and has not given a date. Leave your email and we will tell you when the window opens, with the forces and the closing date we can find. You can add up to two forces too. Occasional emails, written by hand. Unsubscribe any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Police Now National Detective Programme still exist?
Not under that name. Police Now launched the National Detective Programme in 2019. It now runs one National Graduate Programme with specialisms and the detective routes are the Detective, Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism specialisms. Its old National Detective Programme web address now shows the Detective specialism page.
How long is the Police Now detective academy?
Thirteen weeks, on Police Now's Detective page, partner page and June 2026 news release. It covers investigative techniques, law, interviewing and evidence gathering, with NIE revision built into the day. Other text on Police Now's site says twelve weeks and the July 2026 cohort news says up to 13 weeks.
When do Police Now trainee detectives sit the NIE?
Police Now's partner page says at the end of its 13-week academy, within the first three months of the programme and its June 2026 news release says sitting the NIE is a key part of the academy. Its programme page lists the NIE as a step after force integration. It is the same College of Policing exam everyone sits: 80 questions in 120 minutes, with 39 of 70 scored questions needed to pass.
Do Police Now detectives do response policing?
Yes, briefly. Police Now's partner page says that after the academy participants complete an immersion period on the force response team and are expected to reach independent patrol status within 10 weeks of joining the force. After that they work predominantly in CID teams.
Will I be a detective at the end of Police Now?
That is the aim. Police Now's partner page says participants complete PIP1 and PIP2 over the first and second years, alongside full operational competence and are expected to be confirmed in rank as detectives by the end of the two years. Under the College of Policing's PIP policy, only those signed off at PIP2, which needs an NIE pass, can use the title substantive detective.
What are the requirements for the Police Now Counter Terrorism route?
On top of the general eligibility, the March 2027 Met job description asked for UK nationality (dual nationals with a British element considered in approved circumstances) and ten years' UK residence, with some exemptions. Police Now's Counter Terrorism page gives five years' residence for West Midlands Police. Vetting goes up to Developed Vetting, completed during the academy.
When does counter terrorism work start on Police Now?
In year two. Police Now's Counter Terrorism page says CT work begins in the second year, after the detective academy and first year and that graduates progress into the CT team immediately or soon after the programme.
What does the Police Now Economic Crime specialism involve?
Police Now's Dorset Police job description describes protecting individuals, businesses and communities from fraud, cybercrime and financial exploitation, through complex investigations into fraud, money laundering and organised criminal networks. Its Economic Crime page lists tax evasion, money laundering, online fraud, identity fraud and bribery and corruption.
Do Police Now detectives get paid more?
No. You are paid on your force's constable scale from day one, like any other constable. There is no national detective allowance in Annex U of the Police Regulations 2003. Pay differs by force because of location allowances. The March 2027 job descriptions gave £31,164 for Detective in North Wales and Economic Crime in Dorset and £42,210 for Counter Terrorism in the Met, but those are 2025/26 rates written before the September 2026 award. From 1 September 2026 the figures are £32,256 (pay point 1, no location pay) and about £43,688 at the Met, which starts recruits on pay point 2. So detectives do not start below neighbourhood officers.
Is the Police Now NIE pass rate really higher than the national rate?
Police Now says so, but the figures are its own. Its June 2026 news release says 86.3% of its trainee detectives passed against a national rate it gives as 67%; its detective page says 75% first time against 60% nationally; its partner page gives 83% for the 2022 cohort against 70%. We could not check any of these against College of Policing data.
Can I apply to Police Now's detective route and a force's detective DHEP at the same time?
Yes. Police Now's FAQ says you can apply to it while applying directly to a force through another route, but if you receive offers from both you must choose one. The force route uses the national sift and online assessment process, so you would be preparing for two different selection processes.
Is Police Now the same as detective DHEP?
No. Detective DHEP is a force's own detective pathway on the degree holder entry programme, recruited through the national sift and online assessment process. Police Now runs its own selection and a 13-week academy with a national cohort. Both lead towards PIP2 through the same NIE.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 19 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: Detective specialism : programme stages; 13-week academy content; NIE as a key milestone; specialist training areas; Police Now's 75% first-time against 60% national claim; 1,000+ detectives recruited; eligibility summary (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: old National Detective Programme address : now shows the Detective specialism page (read 19 October 2026) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Partner with us : NIE at the end of the 13-week academy and within the first three months; independent patrol status within 10 weeks of joining the force; response immersion; PIP1 and PIP2 across the two years; predominantly CID; confirmed in rank by the end; 2022 cohort NIE claim; retention of second and third detective cohorts; syndicate leads one per ten (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: National Graduate Programme : detective pathway stages; detective routes follow a similar structure; level 6 or 7 qualification; salary ranges; March 2028 start (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism : Met and West Midlands; residency five years (West Midlands) or ten (Met); British citizen wording; vetting stages before and during the academy; CT work from year two; what CT work involves; £31,164 to £42,210 (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism job description (Met, March 2027) : £42,210; UK national, dual nationals in approved circumstances; ten years' residence; Developed Vetting; leave; pension (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Detective job description (North Wales, March 2027) : £31,164; rotations across investigative teams; full UK manual licence except London forces; Level 3; March 2028 to open later (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Economic Crime : types of economic crime; City of London Police as national lead force; Police Now's partnership figures (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Economic Crime job description (Dorset, March 2027) : Dorset Police; March 2027 start; £31,164; description of the work (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Detective assessment centre : crime case interactions, investigative report, interview, debrief; research Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism; outcome in ten working days (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Detective immersive assessment : untimed, about 45 minutes; practice round; feedback report (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Candidate help hub (FAQs) : applying to Police Now and a force at the same time; academy mostly residential at a conference venue; North Wales Welsh Level 2 by final offer (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Vetting process : vetting levels by specialism, including the counter terrorism check for Detective roles (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now news: trainees achieve record results in national detective exam (26 June 2026) : 86.3% against a stated 67%; 4% exceptional; seven years above the national average; 13-week residential academy; NIE a key part of the academy (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now news: almost 230 trainee detectives attested (18 March 2024) : 229 trainee detective constables in nine forces; first counter terrorism stream of 75 for the Met; NDP launched 2019, fifth cohort; NIE after the academy; IPS, FOC and PIP2 by the end; LJMU graduate diploma; cohort profile (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now news: recruits take oath as new Met and West Midlands officers (21 July 2026) : 124 recruits, Neighbourhood and Counter Terrorism, Met and West Midlands; up to 13 weeks' training (accessed 19 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NIE candidate handbook 2026 (PDF) : 80 questions, 120 minutes, 70 scored, pass mark 39; 2026 sitting and registration dates; resits; three-year validity (accessed 19 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NIE results and analysis overview, September 2026 (PDF) : latest published national pass rate (accessed 19 October 2026)
- College of Policing: PIP programme policy 2023 (PDF) : NIE before PIP2 completion; substantive detective title only after PIP2 sign-off (accessed 19 October 2026)
- College of Policing: police constable entry routes : DHEP length, graduate diploma of 120 credits at level 6 (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 011/2026: Annex U (allowances) : national allowances; no detective allowance (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Police Uplift Programme, entry routes of officer recruits (16 May 2024) : 1,591 recruits (3%) via Police Now, November 2019 to March 2023 (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Alumni hub : promotion coaching; Fast Track support; lateral career moves (accessed 19 October 2026)
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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 19 October 2026.