Accelerated Careers Development Programme
The Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates (APSG) has been renamed and replaced by the Accelerated Careers Development Programme (ACDP)
This is a national Scottish Police Service Programme designed to offer a structured career path for the most promising and capable graduates who wish to become police officers within one of the eight police forces in Scotland. It offers substantial responsibility early in their careers, and an accelerated route, not a bypass, to senior management. So first and foremost, you need to prove yourself as an effective and capable uniformed operational constable.
You should be aware that this is an extremely demanding programme and numbers selected are not high. Indeed, over the last few years less than one per cent of all applicants have been successful in securing a place on the programme.
The vast majority of graduates entering the police service will do so as standard (non ACDP) applicants. There is, however, an opportunity to apply for the ACDP scheme during the initial two year probationary period should they wish to do so.
What We're Looking For
To become a serving officer, you'll meet certain criteria - a real commitment to operational police work, and the skills to rapidly assimilate knowledge and skills and use information to make consistently valid decisions and judgements. But to join the ACDP, you'll also need a degree, the ability to work under pressure and close scrutiny, and the willingness to start at the lowest level and work your way up on merit alone.
Eligibility
Eligibility to the ACDP Scheme has been extended to undergraduates in the final year of any degree course.
Non-graduates who have either passed the Police (Scotland) Promotion Examinations or the new Diploma in Police Service Leadership and Management, which was recently introduced by the Scottish Police Service, can also apply to join the ACDP.
Full details on the scheme can be found on the Scottish Police College Website, www.tulliallan.police.uk or by calling the scheme co-ordinator who is also based at the college on 01259 732338.