While the vast majority of new recruits start off doing two to three years of frontline police work, the opportunities for career progression are huge - and that’s not just through uniformed ranks.
Police roles
After successful completion of the probationary period, you can apply to work in a huge variety of roles and specialist units, including:
- Community policing - covering roles like neighbourhood and response policing, and roads policing
- Investigation - ranging from detectives, crime scene investigators and family liaison officers to forensics and domestic abuse investigators
- Intelligence - roles include surveillance analysts, covert operatives and communications data investigators
- Operational support - roles range from control centre and custody officers, to specialist roles like dog handler or mounted police, police diver, firearms officer and football spotter
Training and progression
Throughout your police career, you’ll receive on-going training, support and guidance to ensure you’re fully equipped to do your job safely and confidently.
Volunteering
You don’t always need to join straight into paid roles. You can volunteer as a Special Constable, where you’ll undertake the same training as a regular paid Police Constable, while committing to a minimum of four hours a week. Find out more about what’s involved.