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Police officer

  • Hours

    40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £20,000 + per year

If you enjoy challenges and like the idea of helping to make communities safer, this could be an ideal career for you. As a police officer you would work to maintain order. You would help prevent and investigate crime. And you would also find and prosecute offenders.

Police officer recruitment is handled by individual police forces, and their requirements can vary. In general you will need to have lived in the UK for 3 years. You must be over 18. And you will have to pass background and security checks.

Good police officers have honesty and confidence. They also have social awareness and a responsible attitude. They can also remain calm in sometimes life-threatening situations.



The work

You could work as a uniformed officer on foot or in a patrol car (known as on the beat), or at a police station. You would carry out a range of tasks, which could include:

  • responding to calls for help from the public
  • investigating crimes and offences, and making arrests
  • interviewing witnesses and suspects, preparing crime reports and taking statements
  • searching for missing people
  • giving evidence in court
  • going out to accidents and fires
  • duties relating to custody
  • working at the station reception desk dealing with the public
  • two-way contact with officers on the beat from the communications room
  • policing large public events, concerts and demonstrations
  • visiting schools to give talks.

You would need to complete a trial (probationary) period as an officer. After that you could specialise in a specific branch such as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the drug squad or the traffic police.


Hours

You would normally work 40 hours a week on a shift system, which may include nights, weekends and public holidays. Overtime is often available. You can also apply to work part-time.

You will spend much of your time outdoors on foot, in a patrol car or on a motorcycle. You will have some duties indoors, for example at the police station, the courts, or at private or business locations.


Income

Salaries can vary between police forces.

The starting salary is generally between £20,000 and £23,000 a year. With several years' experience, earnings can reach around £36,500 a year.

A sergeant can earn around £40,000 a year and inspectors can earn around £50,000.

There may be extra pay for working overtime. Police officers working in the London area may receive an additional cost of living payment.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

Police officer recruitment is handled by individual police forces, and their requirements can vary. In general you will need to:

  • be a British citizen, a citizen of the Commonwealth, European Union (EU) or other European Economic Area (EEA) country, or a foreign national allowed to stay in the UK for an unlimited time.
  • be at least 18 years old.
  • pass background and security checks, and give details of any previous convictions.
  • have above average physical fitness, and good vision and colour vision (with or without glasses or contact lenses).

In most cases, you will also need to have been resident in the UK for the three years before applying.

As well as meeting the standards above, you will also need to pass a series of tests before being accepted as a trainee police officer. These are in areas like working with numbers, communication, reading and writing skills, handling information, making decisions and making judgements. You will also have a physical fitness test and a health check.

Check with your local police force for exact details. See the Police Service Recruitment, Police Service of Northern Ireland and Scottish Police Forces websites for contact details.

As a probationer (trainee) or serving officer, you may be able to join the High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS). The scheme develops those with the potential to become future police leaders, and leads to a Masters qualification. Check the Police Service Recruitment website, or the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) website for details.


Training and development

During your first two years as a trainee (or probationer), you will spend time learning on the job within your local police force, and studying subjects such as community safety at a police college. This period is part of an Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) and includes supervised and independent patrolling, and working towards a Level 3 Diploma in Policing.

You may increase your chances of promotion if you go on to study other qualifications such as:

  • NVQ Level 3 in Police Supervisory Management
  • NVQ Level 4 in Police Operational Management
  • foundation degree in policing.

Throughout your career you will be expected to keep your skills up to date and take part in relevant training as necessary.


Skills and knowledge

To become a police officer you will need to have:

  • honesty, confidence, social awareness and a responsible attitude.
  • the ability to assess a situation, react quickly and take positive action.
  • resilience.
  • the ability to remain calm in sometimes life-threatening situations.
  • the ability to work alone and in a team.
  • strong communication skills.
  • courage, initiative and common sense.
  • good fitness levels.
  • good literacy skills.
  • a firm but tactful approach.
  • the ability to show tolerance and courtesy to the public.
  • self-discipline.
  • the ability to give and receive instructions
  • knowledge of the law.

More information

Scottish Police Forces (Opens new window)
www.scottish.police.uk

Skills for Justice (Opens new window)
Centre Court
Atlas Way
Sheffield
S4 7QQ
www.skillsforjustice.com

Police Service of Northern Ireland (Opens new window) (PSNI)
http://www.joinpsni.co.uk/

Police Service Recruitment (Opens new window)
www.policecouldyou.co.uk


Opportunities

There are around 52 police forces in the UK and each one recruits its own staff. For information on vacancies, contact or check the website for the police force you want to join. You will find a list of police forces on the Police Service Recruitment website.

After your probationary period (the first two years of service), you can specialise in a branch such as the traffic police, the fraud squad or underwater search units. Opportunities for promotion are often available.

You could apply for the High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS), which includes fast promotion opportunities. See Entry Requirements above and the National Policing Improvement Agency website for details.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

Police and law enforcement is part of the justice sector, which is represented by Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council. It includes: forensic science; prosecution service; courts and tribunals; custodial care; community justice; plus fire and rescue services. The UK justice sector works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. The purpose of the sector is to reduce crime and re‐offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different remits.

Policing and law enforcement within the UK includes agencies responsible for: the maintenance of law and order; the prevention and detection of crime; and the reassurance and support for communities. The main functions are:

  • promote safety and reduce disorder
  • reduce crime and fear of crime
  • investigating crime
  • contribute to delivering justice in a way that secures and maintains public confidence in the rule of law

Policing organisations includes: 43 police forces in England and Wales; 8 police forces in Scotland; police service of Northern Ireland; Non‐Home Office Forces, such as British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police; and Special Forces, such as Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch. Law enforcement organisations primarily work to protect the UK borders and frontiers, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and UK Border Agency.

Key facts:

  • In total, there are 321,828 people working in police and law enforcement, of which:
    • 262,124 people work within the police service
    • 62,231 work in Non‐Home Office Forces
    • 4,645 work in Special Forces
  • There are approximately 90 establishments across the UK with the majority employing over 200 employees.
  • Police forces in England and Wales employ 80,322 full‐time equivalent non‐uniformed staff to undertake posts in finance, personnel, scenes of crime and transport, force intelligence, etc.
  • Women across the justice sector as a whole tend to be concentrated in support roles.

Jobs in the industry range from: Police Officers, Immigration Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Force intelligence officer, Border patrol, Immigrations officer, Inspector, and Call handler.


National and regional data

The East Midlands has 5 police forces that employ approximately 17,800 officers, staff and specials, approximately 7% of the police service. The five forces are: Derbyshire; Leicestershire; Lincolnshire; Northamptonshire; and Nottinghamshire. Derbyshire Constabulary had a 2‐4% increase in the number of officers from 2007 to 2008.

The East of England has 6 police forces that employ approximately 22,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 9% of the police service. The six forces are: Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Essex; Hertfordshire; Norfolk; and Suffolk.

London has 2 police forces that employ approximately 54,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 22% of the police service. The forces are: City of London; and Metropolitan Police Service. Additionally 3,100 police officers, staff and specials in the British Transport Police work throughout London.

The North East has 3 police forces that employ approximately 12,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 5% of the Police service. The three forces are: Cleveland; Durham; and Northumbria.

The North West has 5 police forces that employ approximately 33,500 officers, staff and specials, approximately 13% of the police service. The five forces are: Cheshire; Cumbria; Greater Manchester; Lancashire; and Merseyside.

The South East has 5 police forces that employ approximately 32,600 officers, staff and specials, approximately 13% of the police service. The five forces are: Hampshire; Kent; Surrey; Sussex; and Thames Valley.

The South West has 5 police forces that employ approximately 21,400 officers, staff and specials, approximately 9% of the police service. The five forces are: Avon and Somerset; Devon and Cornwall; Dorset; Gloucestershire; and Wiltshire. Gloucestershire Constabulary had 2‐4% increase in the number of officers from 2007 to 2008.

The West Midlands has 4 police forces that employ approximately 25,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 10% of the police service. The four forces are: Staffordshire; Warwickshire; West Midlands; West Mercia; and West Midlands.

Yorkshire and Humberside has 4 police forces that employ approximately 24,000 officers, staff and specials, approximately 10% of the Police service. The four forces are: Humberside; North Yorkshire; South Yorkshire; and West Yorkshire.

In Northern Ireland, there are 13,700 people employed in policing and law enforcement, of which mostly all are employed by Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI). There are a number of skill shortages in Northern Ireland, including: performance management; first line management skills; dealing with volume crime; and investigative skills alongside new community policing issues.

In Scotland, there are 26,629 people employed in policing and law enforcement. The role of Police Community Support Officer has recently been introduced. Immediate challenges for the industry include: attracting appropriately skilled staff; increased partnership working across the sector as a whole; keeping up with technology; and keeping up with policy and legislative change.

In Wales, there are 13,500 people employed in policing and law enforcement, of which the majority are in the police service. Some specific skills shortages include: multi agency working; management and leadership skills; managing change; financial and resource management; ICT and computing; and race and diversity.


Career paths


Further sources


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