Police officers

Joined as an officer, became a protector.

What could you become?

It’s not every day you get the chance to arrive first to a crime scene and make quick judgement calls to ensure the safety of all around you. Or get to seek answers and secure evidence to convict perpetrators and protect vulnerable individuals, or bring justice for victims by leading an investigation or operation into success.

Policing encompasses a variety of skills, roles, and responsibilities.

You’ll need determination, patience, and the ability to champion those around you.

Protector, Investigator, Responder or Leader (and plenty more…)

One career. Countless opportunities.

Find out where your policing career will take you and apply today.

• Applicants who do not hold a degree
• Applicants who hold a degree
• Degree holder applicants who would like to become a detective
• Applicants who already hold a degree in Professional Policing

Why should you work for us?

As a police constable you can earn a salary starting from:

• £28,682 (which includes £2,000 South East allowance)

Other benefits include:

• Career progression
• Public sector pension
• Generous annual leave entitlement which increases as part of your service
• Sussex Police supports work-life balance supported by family friendly policies
• Be part of a wider police family including officer and staff associations

Careers don’t come more rewarding than this.

Tackling crime, taking knives off the streets, engaging and educating young people and being the person everyone looks towards for help. A Police Officer’s role is demanding and diverse – no two days are the same.

We’re looking for people who have the judgment to make quick decisions; are confident to be first person in; have the compassion and empathy to help those in need; who’ll have their colleagues back no matter what and the resilience to serve the community every single day.

You should consider whether you can: 

• Deal with the complex and sensitive cases, requiring clear reasoning and evidence gathering.
• Think on your feet – problem solving and responding to new challenges.
• Develop new skills as data and technology become ever more important to policing.
• Work well with colleagues as part of an effective team.
• Have great people skills, remaining calm and patient with members of the public, particularly in stressful or volatile situations.
• Handle traumatic situations and be able to communicate information sensitively.
• Be decisive and use your police powers appropriately.
• Give clear and accurate evidence in court.
• Work shifts, nights and weekends (including public holidays).
• Be flexible about where you work - you might not work in your preferred location.
• Be willing and able to meet the academic demands and deadlines throughout the programme.  

You’ll receive training and support throughout your career to help you manage the demands of policing, but it’s important to be sure that becoming a police officer is right for you.

If you have a question about any aspect of your recruitment journey, be that eligibility requirements, completing the application form, or you want to find out more about what happens after you have submitted your application, our recruitment experts can answer your questions. Email the team to book a 1:1 recruitment call now: [email protected]

Which route is best for me?

November 2022 update

At the annual NPCC and APCC summit held on 9 November, 2022 the Home Secretary announced that she has asked the College of Policing to work with the police service and Home Office to explore options for a fourth entry route that maintains the standards and benefits of the three new entry routes but does not have degree accreditation.

For now there are no changes, the three new routes and the IPDLP will continue to be available. Over the next 12 months the College of Policing and police forces will focus on improving local implementation of the new routes. The College of Policing will work with the service to explore options for a fourth, non-degree accredited, route that could be available alongside the three PEQF entry routes from April 2024.