Police officer
Career outlook for police officer
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£19,164
£19,164
Experienced
£41,130
£41,130
Currently employed in Scotland
14,700
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would maintain law and order, investigate crimes, make arrests, give evidence in court and work on projects to prevent crime.
The work is very important in helping the members of your local community feel safe and secure.
You'd be employed by Police Scotland. You can see details of the training on the Police Scotland website.
After initial training you would work as a uniformed officer, either in a response or a community-based role, patrolling your area (or 'beat') on foot or in a patrol car. There would also be paperwork and other tasks to be completed in a police station.
Depending on your role, you would:
- Respond to calls for help from the public
- Investigate crimes and make arrests
- Interview witnesses and suspects, prepare crime reports and take statements
- Search for missing people
- Give evidence in court
- Go out to accidents and fires
- Carry out administrative tasks around custody
- Work at the station reception desk dealing with the public
- Contact officers on the beat from the communications room
- Police large public events, concerts and demonstrations
- Visit schools to give talks
You would need to complete a trial period as an officer. This is called probation and lasts two years.
After that you may be able to specialise in a specific branch such as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the drug squad or the traffic police. You'd need to complete a Diploma in Police Service, Leadership and Management to be eligible for promotion.
You’d need solid knowledge of the law and good literacy skills.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
94%
Part-time
6%
Self employed
0%
Create a qualification route
We've found some examples of the qualifications that could help you get this job.
Discover my routeSearch course options
Thinking about your future? There are lots of courses available that could interest you. Use our course search to explore course options.
Find coursesSearch job opportunities
If you're looking for your new career our job search can help you. Discover interesting opportunities and decide your next steps.
Find a jobTop skills
Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.
- Resilience
- Cooperating
- Mediating
- Verbal communication
- Problem solving
- Empathising
- Attention to detail
- Ethical
- Making decisions
Skills Explorer
Your skills can help you choose the career that's right for you. You can build your skills through work, study or activities you do in your spare time.
Our Skills Explorer tool will help you understand what skills you have and match them to jobs that might suit you.
Use the Skills Explorer toolGetting in
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role but if your application is accepted you will need to pass the Standard Entrance Test which consists of papers on:
- Language
- Numeracy
- Information-handling
You also need to pass a multi-stage fitness test (commonly known as the 'bleep test'). The bleep test is also carried out once more at the end of the recruitment process.
Practice papers for the Standard Entrance Test and pass marks for the fitness test are available on the Police Scotland website.
If you are successful at the initial interview, you will be invited to an assessment centre for teamwork exercises and another interview. Interviews are competency-based, and the competencies are published on the Police Scotland website.
Thorough background checks and a medical are also undertaken.
Useful subjects
- English
- Maths
You will also need
- To be at least 18 years old, but you can apply when you are 17½ years old
- To be a British, European Union or Commonwealth citizen; or have permission to stay in the UK indefinitely and have lived in the UK for at least three years before your application
- To be physically fit
- To have good eyesight
Helpful to have
If you're aged 13-17 and considering being a police officer you could become a Police Scotland Youth Volunteer (PSYV). You'd attend community and national events across Scotland alongside adult volunteers and serving officers.
Being a volunteer could help you understand how policing works in Scotland by participating in your local community.
The programme is open to all young people aged 13-17.