Police officer | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Police officers keep law and order, investigate crime, and support crime prevention.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Ren

Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Render aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements.
Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.
Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.
Issue citations or warnings to violators of motor vehicle ordinances.
Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
Provide road information to assist motorists.
Act as official escorts, such as when leading funeral processions or firefighters.
Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
Inspect public establishments to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.

Average salary
60,450 GBP *
per year

Average salary for Police officer

61,006 GBP
58,806 GBP

Average salary for full-time Police officer

Showing:

60,450 GBP
58,806 GBP
61,006 GBP

Salary over time for Police officer

Pay for this role has decreased slightly over time

59,362 GBP
61,752 GBP
61,874 GBP
60,599 GBP
60,960 GBP
59,375 GBP
60,450 GBP
62,457 GBP
42,316 GBP

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Future outlook for Police officers

Very good outlook

7 000+ jobs available

Fair outlook

-4% yearly wage growth (on average)

Very good outlook

23% chance of automation in the future

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Police officer and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

35% of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
27% of people in this role have a post-secondary qualification such as a Higher National Diploma
24% of people in this role have a Diploma of Higher Education or equivalent

You could take a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services before applying to the police, although this is not essential.

You'll need:

legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
knowledge of public safety and security
negotiation skills for keeping people safe
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
sensitivity and understanding for dealing with traumatic situations
the ability to understand people’s reactions
excellent verbal communication skills
leadership skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Police officer

Policing

Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. Self Control Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Stress Tolerance Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

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Police officer | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

Similar Courses

BSc (Hons) Professional Policing

Professional Policing BA (Hons)

MSc Terrorism, Security and Policing

NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Policing

BSc (Hons) Policing and Criminal Investigation

Professional Policing BA (Hons) with Foundation Year

Uniformed Public Service Level 2 First Certificate

Uniformed Public Services Level 2 First Certificate

Public Services Level 3 Extended Diploma (Banbury)

Future outlook for Police officers

Police officer - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your Police officer interview

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