Police officer

Police officers keep law and order. They protect people and property, and make neighbourhoods safer places to live and work in. Officers try to prevent and reduce crime, and they investigate crimes that have taken place. They are also called to accidents and emergencies.

Also known as:

Detective
PC
Police constable

Work activities

Police officers have a wide range of responsibilities. These include:

Maintaining law and order.
Protecting people and property from harm.
Preventing, reducing and investigating crime.
Dealing with emergency situations.
Reducing and dealing with anti-social behaviour.
Supporting victims and witnesses.

A local policing unit/station is usually managed by an inspector and a team of sergeants. Each unit is divided into neighbourhood beats, with teams of police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and special (volunteer) constables. Incidents are reported directly to the station or are diverted to the police from 999 calls. Most police forces have one central control room, where police officers provide backup by personal or car radio to officers on the beat. Police officers could be involved in tasks such as:

Gathering information.
Responding to emergencies.
Attending scenes of crime or road traffic incidents.
Interviewing people.
Investigating suspicious incidents.
Taking part in operations to target criminals.
Searching people, vehicles and premises.
Taking statements from victims and witnesses.
Making arrests.
Giving evidence in court.
Keeping accurate records.
Informing relatives of injuries or death.

Police officers work in partnership with other officers, other services and members of the public. Fully qualified police officers can work on patrol (on foot, by bike or in a car) or apply to join a specialist unit. Uniformed officers can specialise in areas such as:

Community safety/liaison.
Dog-handling.
Traffic/motorway section.
Specialist support for families, victims and witnesses.
Underwater search units.
Mounted police.
Firearms units.
Air support units.

Not all forces have an underwater, air support or mounted unit. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) offers the opportunity to work as a detective. Officers can specialise in one of a number of areas such as:

Fraud.
Drugs.
Serious organised crime.
Special operations (surveillance).

Police officers who work for the British Transport Police carry out similar duties to other police forces, but on the railway system; this includes stations and the London Underground.

Personal qualities and skills

As a police officer, you’ll need to be able to:

Understand, respect and deal with people of all ages, types and backgrounds.
Demonstrate a community and customer focus.
Handle difficult situations with sensitivity.
Use your initiative.
Make decisions.
Take personal responsibility for your actions and for sorting out and solving problems.
See things from other people’s points of view.
Adapt your style of communication to the needs of different people.
Work well as a member of a team.
Organise and motivate yourself.
Act quickly and keep calm and confident in emergencies.
Build good relationships with people.
Gather information from different sources.
Record details accurately.
Concentrate for long periods of time.

You should have:

Verbal and written communication skills.
Honesty and good judgement.
Number and logical reasoning skills.
Observation skills.

Basic IT and keyboard skills would be an added advantage.

The job demands you to be fit and active. All entrants to the police must pass fitness, medical and eyesight tests, although police services accept people who wear contact lenses or glasses if their unaided vision meets certain standards. Your colour vision might be tested. There are no minimum or maximum height requirements. You should not have any visible tattoos that could cause offence. Some medical conditions (current or past) could make it very difficult for you to become a police officer; you should check these carefully. You might need to have a full driving licence before you are accepted for training. In other areas, you’ll need to learn during your training. There are some police services where you might not need a driving licence.

Pay and opportunities

Police officers are paid on a rising scale. The pay rates given are approximate. Police constables earn in the range of £19,164 - £41,130 a year.

Police officers work 37-40 hours a week, which usually includes shifts, evenings, weekends and public holidays. They might be required to work overtime to cover special events or emergencies. Police officers often get time off instead of payment for overtime.

Employers are police services and the British Transport Police, throughout England and Wales. Other organisations that have a police force include the Ministry of Defence and the Ports of Dover and Liverpool. Opportunities for police officers occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout England and Wales.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are usually advertised in the local press, on the Government’s Find a Job service, and on regional police service websites. Each police service is responsible for its own recruitment, but there is a national police application form that is completed online.

Entry routes and training

Most police forces use one, or a combination of the following entry routes:

Join as a constable and follow a police constable degree apprenticeship. This route involves both on and off-the-job learning. On successfully finishing the programme, you complete your probation and achieve a degree.
If you already have a degree in any subject, you can join and follow a work-based programme, supported by off-the-job learning. This route normally takes two years, and the learning you have undergone is recognised in a graduate diploma in professional policing practice when you complete your probation.
If you want to study first, you can do a three-year degree in professional policing at your own expense, and then apply to a force and follow a shorter on-the-job training programme. For this route, you will need to find a university to study with and apply directly to them.
Apply directly if you have three A-levels/equivalent or experience in a profession such as the armed forces.

Some officers have the opportunity to specialise in an area such as firearms, dog-handling or the CID. Police constables can progress to sergeant posts after passing relevant exams. Promotion to inspector is then possible. Serving police constables and sergeants can apply to join the High Potential Development Scheme. This is designed to develop future leaders and to help them progress to senior positions in the police service.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Working as a police officer is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree course in any subject, the usual requirement is:

Two to three A-levels
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects.

Alternatives to A levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) Level 3 National qualifications
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

However, course requirements vary so check prospectuses carefully.

To do a degree apprenticeship, you will usually need two A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. The minimum age for entry to the police force is 18.

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