The Datum Report

Occupation 3312 · Associate professional occupations

Police officers (sergeant and below)

Police officers (sergeant and below) co-ordinate and undertake the investigation of crimes, patrol public areas, arrest offenders and suspects and enforce law and order. Officers of the British Transport Police operate within the specialised police service for the railway network across britain.

How people enter it

There are no academic requirements for entry to the civilian (Home Office) police although eligibility criteria vary across individual police forces. Entrants must sit an entry test and pass a medical examination. All police officers undergo a two year probationary training period. Residency, nationality and age restrictions apply, and background security checks are carried out in respect of entrants. Entrants may join via the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).

What the work involves

• receives instructions from senior officers and patrols an assigned area on foot, horseback, motorcycle, motor car or boat to check security and enforce regulations
• directs and controls traffic or crowds at demonstrations and large public events
• investigates complaints, crimes, accidents, any suspicious activities or other incidents
• interviews suspects, takes statements from witnesses and stops, searches and/or arrests suspects
• attends accidents
• prepares briefs or reports for senior officers
• works on station reception desk and or in communications room
• gives evidence in court cases

Also called

Detective (police service) · Police constable · Police officer · Sergeant · Transport police officer

What it pays

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Common questions

Classified alongside this

Fire service officers (watch manager and below) · Non-commissioned officers and other ranks · Prison service officers (below principal officer) · Protective service associate professionals n.e.c.