Police Officer - Stevenage, Colchester, Southend, Brighton and GuildfordJobsGoPublic

Now recruiting Police Officers across the South East

Join British Transport Police through our Police Constable Entry Programme.

"BTP truly is a unique police force with a real family feel. We care deeply about what we do; serving the public and supporting our people. Our work matters. If you want to make a positive difference to the millions of people who use the network every day, BTP is the place for you." – Chris Casey, Divisional Commander, London and South East England

Become a Police Officer in our B Division

We are recruiting Police Officers at Stevenage, Colchester, Southend, Brighton and Guildford.

** Holding a valid full UK driving licence is essential for all locations included on this advert **

Please note: We are only recruiting for the locations specified in this advert. If these locations are not suitable for you, we kindly ask that you wait for a future campaign that aligns better with your preferred location.

Could this be the role for you?

As a Police Officer with British Transport Police, you'll play a vital role in keeping millions of passengers, railway staff and members of the public safe every day. Working across one of the busiest transport networks in the world, you'll face unique challenges, develop valuable skills and make a real difference to people's lives.

No two days are the same. One moment, you could be supporting a vulnerable person in crisis. The next, you might be responding to an emergency, investigating crime, safeguarding a child, disrupting criminal activity or reassuring someone during one of the most difficult moments of their life.

This is a career where your actions matter. Every interaction provides an opportunity to protect, support and positively impact the communities we serve.

You'll never face these challenges alone. From your first day of training, you'll be supported by experienced colleagues, supervisors and mentors who are committed to helping you develop, succeed and build a rewarding career.

We offer one of the most competitive starting salary packages for Police Constables in England and Wales, alongside excellent benefits, structured career development and opportunities to specialise throughout your policing career.

What you'll get in return

A successful policing career is about more than salary alone. At British Transport Police, you'll benefit from competitive pay, industry-leading travel benefits, strong family-friendly policies, comprehensive wellbeing support and ongoing opportunities to develop both professionally and personally.

Starting salary: £33,609 (plus additional paid allowances stated below), rising year-on-year to £52,014 after five years

South East Allowances: are dependant on location but are either £3105, £2000 or £1000 depending on location from 1 of training.

Oyster card for personal and professional use

25 days annual leave, increasing with service

A highly competitive Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme

Voucher and incentive schemes, including cycle-to-work and a wide range of retail discounts

Continued investment in learning, supported by dedicated in-house talent and development teams

Clear promotion and career development opportunities across a range of policing specialisms

Specialist support from Occupational Health and wellbeing services

Free eyesight tests

Eligibility for the Blue Light Card

Membership of the Police Federation from day one

Strong support for work-life balance, including 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, alongside paternity leave, carers' leave, adoption leave and special leave provisions

What we're looking for

You do not need previous policing experience to join us. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, experiences and stages of life.

Whether you're changing careers, leaving education, returning to work or looking for a fresh challenge, we'll provide the training, support and development you need to succeed. There is no single background that makes a great police officer. Some of our officers join directly from education, while others bring valuable experience from careers in healthcare, customer service, retail, hospitality, transportation, the military and many other professions.

What matters most is your integrity, commitment to helping others and willingness to learn. If you care about people, enjoy working as part of a team and want to make a difference, we'd love to hear from you. While every day brings different challenges, successful officers are often people who communicate effectively, remain calm under pressure and can build positive relationships with people from all walks of life.

Key qualities include:

Strong communication skills

Sound judgement and problem-solving ability

Empathy and emotional resilience

The ability to build trust and remain calm under pressure

Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)

Successful candidates will join the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP), British Transport Police's two-year entry route for new police officers.

You do not need a degree to apply and you will not be required to complete a degree as part of the programme.

PCEP combines classroom learning, remote learning, scenario-based training and practical operational experience to equip you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for frontline policing.

During training, you'll learn how to:

Use policing powers lawfully and effectively

Prevent and investigate crime

Protect vulnerable people

Respond to incidents and emergencies

Support victims and witnesses

Keep passengers, railway staff and local communities safe

As your career develops, you'll have opportunities to specialise in areas such as CID, Counter Terrorism and County Lines. Whether you aspire to become a detective, join a specialist unit, develop as a leader or continue building expertise in frontline policing, we'll support your ambitions every step of the way.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP), you must have:

LEVEL 2

Level 2 qualifications in English Language and Maths (GCSE Grade C/4 or above, or an accepted equivalent qualification), OR

be willing to undertake BTP's Level 2 English and Maths assessment if you do not currently hold these qualifications,

LEVEL 3 OR WORK EXPERIENCE

In addition to the above you are also required to have:

A Level 3 qualification or above (details below), OR

Have relevant work experience demonstrating an equivalent level of knowledge, responsibility and professional capability (details below)

Examples of Level 3 qualifications include:

Two A-levels at grade E or above (or equivalent, such as a BTEC Level 3, Level 3 T Levels or International Baccalaureate(IB)).

BTEC National Diploma

NVQ Level 3

Access to Higher Education Diploma

Other recognised Level 3 qualifications

Policing experience: at least 12 months' relevant experience, including service as a Special Constable (independent patrol status), PCSO and staff. This service must have been completed within the last five years. OR

Work Experience

We recognise that qualifications are only one measure of potential. If you do not hold a Level 3 qualification, we may consider relevant work experience as an alternative route into policing.

Relevant work experience (24 months service) in one of the following areas:

Armed Forces / Military service

Emergency services (e.g. ambulance, fire)

Revenue Protection Officer / Revenue Inspector

Railway Enforcement Officer

Rail Incident Response or Service Delivery Management roles

Candidates will be required to provide evidence of their qualifications and/or experience during the recruitment process.

You will not be eligible to apply if:

You cannot demonstrate either a Level 3 qualification OR relevant work experience equivalent to Level 3.

You have been unsuccessful following your application, testing or interview for Police Officer, Special Constable or PCSO and have not yet completed the three-month reapplication period.

You have been declined/refused vetting in the last two years by BTP or any other police force, NCA, CNC or MOD.

You have ever received a custodial sentence, including suspended sentences.

You have previously been dismissed from another police force or are subject to a live misconduct investigation.

You are bankrupt, have a County Court Judgment, or an unmanaged Individual Voluntary Arrangement.

You have tattoos deemed offensive (face and neck tattoos are considered on a case-by-case basis).

You do not have permanent right to live and work in the UK.

You have not resided continuously in the UK for the past three years.

Want to apply?

Applications are completed online.

As part of the process, you will be required to complete Situational Judgement Test's. If you do not pass the SJT assessments, your application will not progress at this time, though you may reapply once the reapplication period allows.

You are encouraged, though not required, to attend a question-and-answer session to learn more about the role, life at BTP and the recruitment process.

Please note: This campaign is for new recruits only. Transferees should apply through a transferee-specific vacancy when available.

Successful applicants will join a conditional offer pool and be considered for opportunities for up to 12 months from the date of their conditional offer.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.

We believe our people are strongest when they reflect the diverse communities we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences.

Whatever your background, identity or experience, you'll be supported throughout the recruitment process and throughout your career with British Transport Police.

Reasonable adjustments are available at every stage of the recruitment process.

Use of AI in applications

AI can be a useful tool for generating ideas or helping structure written responses, but we want to hear your genuine voice. Personal experiences, authentic motivation and individual insight are what stand out most to us.

Application deadline: Midnight on Monday 16th November 2026

Please note that this campaign may close early if a high volume of applications is received.

For support or assistance with your application, contact the Recruitment Team - [email protected]

Join British Transport Police and build a career where you'll be supported, valued and empowered to make a meaningful difference every day.