Do you want to become a Police Officer? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:
Job Description - 
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Police officers prevent crime and disorder. Every police officer takes an oath, when they join the service, to keep the peace and to protect people and property. Uniformed police officers provide a visible and reassuring presence and may be involved in:
- patrolling towns, cities and rural areas
- dealing with anti-social behaviour, and drunken and violent incidents
- attending incidents such as burglaries and thefts
- attending and investigating traffic incidents and accidents
- investigating crimes, arresting suspects, interviewing them in custody and taking witness statements.
Police officers forge links with people in the community, gathering important information that may help prevent crimes from being committed.
Many police officers work in specialist departments such as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and road policing, as well as, for example, in drugs, fraud, firearms and stolen vehicle units.
Operational police officers work 37 hours a week, on shifts that include nights, weekends and public holidays. They are usually assigned to an area, which they patrol either on foot or in a marked police car. This may involve being outside in all weathers.
Salaries range from £19,803 for a newly appointed police constable, to over £55,000 for police officers at senior levels.
Police officers must be:
- genuinely interested in working with and helping the community
- good at communicating with all types of people, even in difficult situations
- determined and logical in their approach to preventing and solving crimes
- able to write accurate reports and deal with complex paperwork
- good leaders, able to make decisions under pressure.
Police officers work in regional police forces in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and with non-geographic forces, such as the British Transport Police. There are no educational requirements. Every new recruit has to complete a probationary period, learning the basics of police law and procedures in a combination of classroom-based activities and work-based placements.
Promotion to the ranks of sergeant and inspector and beyond is by examination. Many police officers remain at the rank of constable, widening their experience by joining specialist departments such as CID or road policing. Some may further their development by gaining qualifications ranging from NVQs/SVQs in public services to degrees and postgraduate qualifications in police studies.
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