Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship | Durham Constabulary
3 Years Full-Time | Professional Policing Practice BSc (Hons)

This module opens with a week-long induction to the PCDA programme that combines an introduction to your police force and to the university. To prepare you for your role as a police constable you will undertake sessions in key topics including understanding the role of the police constable, valuing diversity and inclusion, wellbeing and resilience, communication skills, decision making and discretion, as well as suspect and offender management and response policing. In addition, you will explore the code of ethics and the importance of professionalism in the police service.

Your induction week is followed by one week of officer personal safety training during which you develop knowledge, understanding, and practical skills central to role of police constable. Training includes, though is not limited to, conflict management and communication skills; compliant handcuffing; limb restraint; conducting police searches; and custody skills. You will also undertake an assessed fitness test and learn self-defence techniques that you may need when dealing with conflict situations; this will include the National Decision Model (NDM) and tactical communications allowing you to deal with varying levels of conflict.

During week three of the module, you will look at the different elements of policing, including responding to policing incidents as well as further exploring different communication techniques you can use in your front-line policing role. You will also be given inputs on wellbeing and resilience giving you a tool kit of strategies to cope with stressful and traumatic situations you may encounter as a police officer.

Module learning outcomes are aligned to the CoP curriculum (v. 3.0 February 2026)

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship – College of Policing Curriculum (Core National)
The Police Constable Role and Professional Standards: 1.1-1.6; 2.1-2.2; 3.1; 4.1; 5.1-5.5; 6.1; 6.1a; 7.1; 8.1a; 8.1b-8.2b (as applicable [light touch]); 9.1-9.2; 10.1-10.3
Culture and Inclusion: 1.1-1.2; 1.5-1.6; 2.2-2.5; 3.1-3.4; 4.1-4.2
Prevention and Problem-Solving (incorporating Evidenced-based Policing): 3.1-3.2; 5.1-5.2 (light touch)
Wellbeing and Resilience: 1.1-1.8
Communication Skills: 1.1-1.8; 2.1-2.2; 2a.1; 2b.1; 3.1-3.5; ; ; 6.1
Decision Making and Discretion: 1.1; 2.1-2.8
Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership Working: 4.1-4.2
Suspect / Offender Management: 6.1-6.5 (light touch)
Response Policing: 1.1-1.4; 1.6; 2.1-2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2 (as applicable); 2.3a; 2.5-2.7a; 6.1; 7.1-7.4; 7a.1; 7b.1; 7c.1-7c.4; 7d.1-7d.2; 7e.1-7e.2; 7f.1-7f.2; 7g.1-7g.3; 8.0a- 8.3
Information and Intelligence: 1.2; 2.1-2.5

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship – College of Policing Curriculum (Core Local)
The Police Constable Role and Professional Standards: 1.1; 2.1
Criminal Justice System: 1.1
Culture and Inclusion: 1.1-1.2
Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership Working: 5.1
Wellbeing and Resilience: 1.1-1.5; 3.1
Information and Intelligence: 1.1
Suspect/Offender Management: 1.1 (light touch)

This module will introduce you to the powers, procedures and law that will enable you to police communities lawfully and ethically. The module will explore strategies for policing communities which will enable you to legally, ethically and professionally detect crimes, protect the public and police the roads.

In addition, you will develop an understanding of criminal law and the relevant legislation required to detect and prove a crime. Specifically, you will gain an understanding of an officers power of arrest, stop and search and powers of entry. You will be introduced to numerous criminal offences including public order, dishonesty, Offences weapons, drugs, Criminal attempts, Offences against the person, criminal damage and road traffic offences. You will develop an understanding of what is required to prove such offences, what defences may apply and what powers can be used and procedures you should follow when detecting criminal offences. You will explore the importance of accurately recording crimes and how to correctly input these crimes into police systems.

You will also consider, trigger offences such as criminal damage and the impact of anti-social behaviour, as well as the impact of social media and use of technology, both positively and negatively, on individuals and communities. You will be given skills around problem solving techniques and the explore the difference between information and intelligence helping you formulate an investigative mindset which you can use to protect vulnerable individuals and communities.

The principles of Evidence Based Policing and what they mean for practitioners is explored during the module. You will understand how Evidence based Policing can shape operational policing and begin to understand how to gather and analyse data and information for evidence-based practice.

To assist you in putting these skills into operational context you will take part in assessed practical scenarios, covering your police powers and the practicalities of using these in realistic situations.

During the module you will be assessed though a series of formative and summative assessments. These assessments will include multiple -choice question sets, practical scenarios, and presentations.

Module learning outcomes are aligned to the CoP curriculum (v. 3.0 February 2026)

Core National

The Police Constable Role and Professional Standards
2.2, 7.1-7.3, 8.1, 8.4, 8.6, 8.1a-8.3a; 8.1b; 8.2b

Communication Skills
1.1-1.8, 6.1

Prevention and Problem Solving (incorporating evidence-based policing)
1.1-1.6, 2.1-2.4, 3.1-3.2 (as applicable); 4

Decision-Making and Discretion: 1.1

Protecting the Public: 2.5

Victims and Witnesses:
4.1, 4.3, 4.4

Suspect/Offender Management:
3.1-3.3, 5.1-5.3 (light touch), 6.1-6.5, 7.1-7.5, 8.1, 9.1-9.4, 10.0, 10.1

Criminal Justice System:
1.1-1.2, 5.1-5.5 (light touch),

Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership working:
1.0, 1.2, 2.0-2.1, 2a.1-2a.3, 3.1, 4.1-4.3, 6.1-6.3

Response Policing
2c.1-2c.6, 8.0a-8.3

Roads Policing
1.1-1.3, 2.0-2.1

Information and Intelligence
1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.5

Conducting Investigations
1.1-1.1a, 3.1-3.5

Core Local

Prevention and Problem-solving Incorporating Evidence-based Policing)
1.1
Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership Working
1.1-1.2,2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 9.1

Roads Policing
2.1

The full CoP National Policing curriculum will be accessible on the module and Programme blackboard site.

You will learn how to understand and respond to key elements of risk and vulnerability and the importance of effective and appropriate police operational responses. You will be able to demonstrate understanding of different definitions of ‘vulnerability’ and how the topic has emerged as a priority for contemporary policing. Personal and intrinsic dimensions of vulnerability and their links to marginalisation, discrimination and social inequalities more widely are addressed in this module. You will learn the importance of providing effective communication to vulnerable people and principles of effective investigation, with particular reference to mental health, missing persons, and children and adults at risk of abuse. You will understand the nature of effective police response to domestic abuse, with particular reference to factors such as coercive control, stalking, harassment, and financial coercion and how this links to principles of public protection. Effective professional investigation and responses to sexual assault are also addressed in relation to principles of victim focused approaches, the need to gather evidence appropriately and effectively, and police interventions such as sexual harm prevention orders.

CoP Curriculum v.3.0 (February 2026)

The Police Constable Role and Professional Standards: 6.1-6.1a, 7.1-7.3, 8.1b (as applicable),

Culture and Inclusion:1.1-1.2, 1.5-1.6, 2.2-2.6; 3.1-3.4

Wellbeing & Resilience: 1-1.8

Communication Skills: 1- 1.8

Protecting the Public: 1-1.3, 2.1-2.4, 2b.1-2b.5, 3.1

Victims and Witnesses: 1.1-1.6a, 4.1, 4.3,4.4

Suspect/Offender Management:1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 4.1-4.2, 5.1-5.3

Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership Working: 1.0-, 1.2, 2.0, 2.0a, 2a.1-2a.3 (light touch), 6.1-6.2, 7.1-7.3 (light touch)

Conducting Investigations: 1.1a, 3.1 – 3.5, 6.1

Response Policing: 2.1-2.1aa, 2.2 (as applicable), 2.2a, 2.10, 2.1b-2.4b, 3.1, 3.1a, 3.1b, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3,5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8

Core Local:
Wellbeing and Resilience: 2.1
Suspect/Offender Management: 2.1-2.2
Protecting the Public: 1.1-1.2

The full CoP National Policing curriculum will be accessible to module tutors on the module Blackboard Site.

This module introduces criminal investigations and police processes. The module covers the various stages of the law enforcement process, from the legislation/guidance underpinning information and intelligence to the provision of materials for disclosure by the Crown Prosecution Service. In doing so the module examines broad themes such as how information and intelligence held by other agencies can help police operations to specific ones such as things to consider when responding to an incident. It necessarily covers the fundamental principles, legislation and powers related to such activities as well as the police processes that are derived from these.

The core of the module provides a detailed examination of the processes involved in conducting investigations. The module considers the appropriate approaches and/or processes for both responding to and attending incidents as well as gathering and managing evidence/information and carrying out investigations at the crime scene and elsewhere. In doing so it examines the nature and management of evidence and its use within court process.

In addition, the module considers police ethics and how the police support the vulnerable, victims and witnesses but also the responsibilities and procedures for detaining and escorting suspects to and once within custody. It also explores processes surrounding the building of effective case files such as the securing of evidence and the management of exhibits. It also considers the data protection and the general management of management of information and intelligence.

Module learning outcomes are aligned to the CoP curriculum (v. 3.0 February 2026)

Wellbeing and Resilience: 2.1-2.2

Prevention and Problem-Solving (including Evidenced-based Policing): 1.6

Protecting the Public:

Victims and Witnesses:

Core National: 5.1-5.4, 6.1-6.2, 7.1-7.2.

Suspect / Offender Management:

Core National: 7.1-7.5, 8.1, 9.1-9.4, 10.0, 10.1.

Criminal Justice System:

Core National: 2.1-2.5, 4.1-4.3, 5.1-5.5, 6.1-6.2.

Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership Working:

Response Policing:

Core National: 2.1aa, 2.3, 2.1b (as applicable), 2.8,2.9 (as applicable)

Information and Intelligence:

Core National: 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.5

Core Local: 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1

Conducting Investigations

Core National: 1.1-1.1a, 2.1-2.1a, 3.1-3.5, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1-6.2, 7.1-7.2.

Core Local: 1.1, 2.1

This year long module begins with officer personal safety training delivered by the Personal Safety Training Team. Following this, from approximately week 20 onwards, you will undertake an extended period of tutor-supported operational deployment where you will be expected to apply in the workplace the knowledge and understanding gained from related modules. During this operational phase, you will demonstrate (under appropriate levels of supervision) some supported application and awareness of the competencies relating to the role of the police constable. You will be introduced to a range of operational experience and practice, and it is expected that you will achieve Independent Patrol Status (IPS) towards the end of level 4. The specific learning outcomes this module covers are as follows:

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship – College of Policing Curriculum (Core National) – v.3.0 (February 2026)

Police Constable Role and Professional Standards:  3.1; 8.1, 8.4, 8.6

Culture and Inclusion: 3.1-3.4

Wellbeing and Resilience: 1.1-1.8

Communication Skills: 1.1-1.8; 2.1-2.2; 3.1-3.4; ; 6.1 

Prevention and Problem-Solving (Incorporating Evidenced-based Policing): 3.1

Decision Making and Discretion: 1.1; 2.1-2.8 (as applicable)

Victims and Witnesses- 1.1-1.6a; 5.1-5.4

Information and Intelligence: 2.1-2.5

Response Policing – 1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.10; 3.1-3.8 (as applicable); 6.1; 7.1-7.4 (as applicable)  

Suspect/Offender Management – 5.1-5.3; 6.1-.6.5; 9.1-9.4; 10.1 (as applicable)

Criminal Justice System –4.1-4.3; 5.1-5.5 (as applicable); 6.1-6.2

Conducting Investigations – 2.1; 3.1-3.5 (as applicable); 4.1; 5.1; 6.1,6.2 (as applicable); 7.1-7.2 

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship – College of Policing Curriculum (Core Local)

Neighbourhood, Community and Partnership Working: 1.1-1.2; 1.4; 3.1