Force celebrates A-level results day reminding students of opportunities available in policing
Dorset Police is celebrating A-level results day by reminding students of all the opportunities available to start their career in policing.
Thousands of students will be opening their results on Thursday 13 August 2026. While many will already know their next steps, we want to highlight that policing offers a variety of careers – as a police officer, police staff or even as a volunteer.
If you’d like to become a police officer, we currently offer two main training programmes that could suit you:
The Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) is a two-year vocational route for individuals who prefer not to study for a degree. This pathway combines practical learning with classroom-based training, leading to a Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is a three-year programme where you will earn a degree in Professional Policing Practice, fully funded by the Force, while receiving both classroom and operational training.
Both routes allow you to earn while you learn, receive ongoing support and assessment and open the door to a wide variety of specialist roles from neighbourhood policing and investigations to firearms, dog handling or roads policing. We welcome candidates from all different backgrounds and experiences.
To find out more about the qualifications and eligibility visit our website: https://www.dorset.police.uk/police-forces/dorset-police/areas/careers/careers/police-officer-roles/police-constables/
Other roles
- Become a police community support officer and support frontline policing by working closely with residents, schools and businesses to help tackle anti-social behaviour, provide reassurance and build trust.
- Join our contact teams in Bournemouth and Winfrith as contact and dispatch officers, answering calls for service and getting officers to where the public needs them the most.
- You can also become a police officer by volunteering to be a special constable. They have the same powers and wear the same uniform as regular police officers. Full training is provided, catered to the needs of our special constables.
- We are also looking for a range of police staff volunteers, including cadet leaders, to join us and help make a difference to communities and young people.
Assistant Chief Officer Jo Mosley, Director of People and Enabling Services, said: “Everyone at Dorset Police would like to wish all students the very best of luck on A-level results day.
“Whether you’re looking to become a police officer, member of police staff or even volunteer and gain some valuable experience – we have something for you.”
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a police officer or any of the other ways to join policing, then visit our website to find out more: https://www.dorset.police.uk/police-forces/dorset-police/areas/careers/careers/
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