MPS to pilot new counter terrorism pathway as part of National Detective Programme

The pilot will begin in March 2024 and aims to recruit, train and develop “exceptional new officers in CTP”.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing and Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations at the MPS, Matt Jukes, said it presents a “unique opportunity for successful candidates to launch a direct career pathway into counter terrorism”.

Officers entering the MPS via this new stream will move into CTP teams during the second year of the two-year programme, working alongside experienced colleagues to “protect the UK from serious harm and threat” by preventing, deterring, and investigating terrorist activity.

Mr Jukes, said: “There are now several routes into policing and in recent years lots of incredible careers have started with Police Now. We’re really pleased that CTP could now be a significant part of a new detective’s story.

“This pilot partnership, hosted by the Metropolitan Police, presents a unique opportunity for successful candidates to launch a direct career pathway into counter terrorism.

“We know that the National Detective Programme attracts a high standard of diverse and passionate candidates, which mirrors the aims of both CTP and the Metropolitan Police.

“Nothing in this pilot will exclude officers already serving from moving into counter terrorism and in fact, there are hundreds of opportunities for them to do so – that diversity is part of the strength of the team keeping the public safe from terrorism.

“Protecting national security is a challenging, fast-paced and incredibly rewarding area of policing and we can’t wait to welcome people to our world.”

Police Now was founded in 2014 and the National Detective Programme launched in 2019 as a pioneering scheme to assist police forces in England and Wales with the recruitment, training and development of detectives in the face of a well-publicised national shortage of investigators. Now moving into its fifth year, the National Detective Programme has recruited 714 detectives nationally.

Officers sit the National Investigators’ Exam within the first three months of the programme with an average first-time pass rate of 83 per cent, higher than the policing national average (70 per cent). After completing academy training, participants reach ‘independent patrol status’ within the first ten-weeks of joining their force teams, meaning they are able to spend more time on the frontline supporting their communities. They are Professionalising Investigations Programme Level 2 (PIP2) certified by the end of the two-year programme.

Police Now’s director of Policing and Home Affairs, Penny Jerrum, said: “Police Now has worked with the Metropolitan Police Service since inception and they have been an important partner to us ever since.

“We are excited to be expanding our partnership further, as we work together to deliver much-needed change in policing. Police Now brings difference and diversity into the police service and we draw on years of experience to empower officers to challenge cultures, build public confidence in policing and support the communities that need them the most.

“Together, we will ensure that officers on our new stream are supported and trained to the very highest standards, as they contribute to protecting the public from the most serious threats facing the UK.”

As a Times Top 100 Graduate Employer, Police Now said it brings a range of talent and backgrounds into the service, driving policing towards becoming “truly reflective of the diverse communities it seeks to serve and building public trust and confidence in the service”.

Police Now typically attracts those who had not previously considered a career in policing. Of those that started on the National Detective Programme this year, 54 per cent had never considered a career in policing before and 70 per cent are experienced career changers.

Police Now said participants must meet its “strict eligibility criteria and go through a highly competitive and rigorous recruitment process before securing a place on the programme”.

It added: “Applications for the 2024 National Detective Programme, including its new CTP stream in the Met are currently open to eligible candidates with a passion to join the service and make a difference.”