Work Experience - Student Placement 2027

Job Introduction

Work Experience with British Transport Police

Are You Aged 14 to 17?

• Curious about policing and the different careers within it?
• Looking for an exciting work experience opportunity?
• Want to make a difference in your community?

If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Discover Policing with British Transport Police

The British Transport Police (BTP) Work Experience Programme gives young people the chance to learn about policing and the many different roles that help keep Britain's railways safe.

You will meet officers, police staff and volunteers from a range of teams and gain an insight into what life is like in a national police force.

Please note that this is an educational work experience programme. Students will not carry out operational policing duties and will not be placed in active operational environments.

All successful applicants will take part as part of a group and will complete the programme alongside other students.

What You'll Experience

Depending on the location and dates you attend, you may learn about:

• Police officers
• Firearms teams
• Police dogs
• Crime scene investigators (forensics)
• Detectives
• Intelligence teams
• Contact centres
• CCTV
• Custody
• Force Control Rooms
• Volunteers and Special Constables
• The criminal justice system and courts

Activities may include presentations, demonstrations, discussions, case studies and interactive exercises.

Please note that activities vary between locations and dates. Not every placement will include every team.

What You'll Gain

By taking part, you can:

• Learn about careers in policing
• Understand how BTP keeps the railway network safe
• Develop confidence and communication skills
• Meet people working across different areas of policing
• Find out about future career opportunities
• Build your CV and gain valuable experience

Who Can Apply?

To apply, you must:

• Be aged 14 to 17 at the time of the placement
• Be in secondary school or college
• Have a personal email address
• Be able to travel to the location where your placement takes place

Students who are 18 or older when the placement begins are not eligible for this programme.

University students should not apply for this programme. 

2027 Work Experience Programme Dates

Please only apply for dates that you can fully attend. We are unable to offer alternative dates, locations or bespoke placements.

Before You Apply

Please read the following carefully:

Parent or Guardian Awareness
Your parent, guardian or carer must know that you are applying for the programme.

However, we expect the application to be completed by you. While parents, guardians and teachers can support you, your application should reflect your own interests, experiences and ambitions.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You may use tools such as spellcheck to help you, but we want to hear about you.
Applications that appear to have been written largely by AI or another person may not accurately reflect your personality, motivations and suitability for the programme.

Attendance Expectations
If you are offered a place, we expect you to attend all dates of your placement.
Please only apply if you can commit to the full programme. Partial attendance is not normally possible.

Travel Requirements
You may need to travel to the programme location and, in some cases, between sites during the placement.
Please make sure you can arrange any required travel before applying.

Dates and Locations
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for alternative dates, locations or personalised placements outside those advertised.

Please apply only for locations and dates that you can attend in full.

Group-Based Programme
All successful applicants will be placed within a group of students. The programme is designed to be completed alongside other young people and includes group learning activities throughout.

Important Information About Places

Applying for the programme does not guarantee a placement.

We receive a high number of applications each year and places are limited.

Please do not book travel, accommodation or make any other arrangements until you have received confirmation that you have been offered a place.

Successful applicants will be notified in early 2027.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We welcome applications from disabled young people and those with long-term health conditions.

If you need any adjustments to take part, please tell us when you apply. We will work with you and, where appropriate, your parent or guardian to understand what support may be needed.

As facilities and activities differ between locations, adjustments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We are committed to removing barriers wherever possible so that all young people have the opportunity to participate.

About British Transport Police

British Transport Police is the national police force responsible for policing Britain's railways and transport networks.

Every day we help protect millions of passengers, railway staff and infrastructure across England, Scotland and Wales.

From safeguarding vulnerable people and preventing crime to responding to major incidents and supporting communities, we are proud to provide a professional, innovative and community-focused policing service.

Ready to Apply?

If you're interested in learning more about policing and the people who help keep Britain's railways safe every day, we'd encourage you to apply.

For questions about the programme, please contact:

volunteers@btp.police.uk

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of talent to British Transport Police.

Important Information

• Places are limited and applications are competitive.
• Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a place.
• Applications may close early if all places are filled.
• Students must be aged 14-17 at the time of the placement.
• Students must be under 18 when their placement starts.
• Full attendance is expected.
• Alternative dates and locations cannot be offered.
• Students will attend as part of a group with other young people.
• Students will not undertake operational policing duties.
• Students will not be placed in active operational environments.
• Travel may be required to attend the programme or between sites during the placement.
• Successful applicants will be notified in early 2027.
• Please do not make travel or accommodation bookings until your place has been confirmed.

Applications may close before the advertised closing date if all available places are filled.