Police officer transferees

As well as the national salary plus the £2,000 South East allowance, there’s also:

• 25 days per year annual leave, rising to 30 days (based on a working 40 hours a week) a year depending on your length of service.
• Opportunities to progress through the ranks and/or specialise in an area of policing that interests you most.
• A progressive approach to flexible working.
• A competitive package that includes highly competitive pension scheme, flexible benefits, an Employee Assistance Programme for advice and counselling, Chaplaincy support, Mental Health First Aiders, Diffusers for post-incident trauma support.
• Access to discounts, savings and cash back rewards.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave and potential for a career break (after two years’ service).
• Support networks and advice for members from Sussex Police Charitable Trust, staff associations.
• Sports clubs, on-site gyms and activities.

Our dynamic force embraces tolerance, trust, empathy, openness, patience and teamwork. The force’s many staff networking groups promote belonging, safety, inclusivity and make sure our people’s voices are heard. To reflect and protect the communities we serve, we employ individuals from all backgrounds and experiences, and actively promote equality, diversity and inclusivity.

We have worked hard to create a safe, open and inclusive culture. To find out more visit our culture visit our Inclusion page.

If you’re confident, calm, compassionate, empathetic, resilient, and able to make quick, informed decisions, you’re who we’re looking for to help keep Sussex safe. Not only is this a diverse and challenging career, but it’s also incredibly rewarding because we’re the change we want to see in our community. Police Officers are the face of our force so in this role communities will rely on you, on the front line, to protect them, catch criminals and deliver an outstanding service.

Separating emotion from fact can be challenging; you’ll receive the training and support to make it possible. Your listening and communication skills will not only help you ask the right questions to gauge situations, they’ll help you build trusting relationships with the public, victims, witnesses and suspects. We’re in a fast-paced 24/7 environment where no two shifts are ever the same.

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.

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 joining Sussex Police is right for you.

If you’ve got any questions, please contact our recruitment team by emailing [email protected] or book a 1:1 recruitment call.

Police officers typically work 40 hours per week, in shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Response officers work a rotating shift pattern:

• Two early shifts
• Two late shifts
• Two night shifts
• Four rest days

After you successfully pass training, flexible working can be requested. We assess each request based on its own merits and take into account what you need, and what the force needs too.

Upon joining Sussex Police you will complete our week long induction training which will signpost and familiarise you with the workings of Sussex Police, equipping you to help us achieve our force priorities.

As well as providing an overview of Sussex Police you will receive the following:

• Niche training.
• Inputs from Driver Training, Personal Safety Training, Police Federation, Sussex Police Charitable Trust, Police Mutual and an address from a Chief Officer.
• Sessions on Mobile Data Terminals, Airwaves, National Decision Model, Code of Ethics and Professional Standards, Investigation Framework and a re-attestation.

You will be supported by a mentor once you are assigned a specific role in a team.

After your initial training, we support the continuous professional development of our officers.

The recruitment process consists of the following stages and you will be notified at the end of each stage whether or not you have been successful and therefore eligible to proceed to the next stage.

The application process consists of several stages, plus we currently have a large candidate pool - it’s important to note that because of this, the average time from application to appointment is between approx. 10-18 months (subject to an available intake).

Stage One: Application form

You will be advised at the end of the applicant form if you have met all the requirements and are able to progress to the next stage. It is very important that you follow the instructions as incomplete forms will not be accepted. The eligibility assessments within the form checks your eligibility in line with the national recruitment standards.

Stage Two: Force interview

An interview will be conducted by a panel of Sussex Police representatives. This interview will be based upon the competency and values framework.

Stage Three: Pre-employment checks

This is when we begin our pre-employment checks which consist of a medical, vetting, biometric vetting, substance misuse and a fitness test.

• Fitness test: you will need to obtain level 5.4 in the bleep test.
• Medical: you will be required to complete a questionnaire with your medical history which will be reviewed by our Occupational Health team.
• Biometric Vetting: we will take your fingerprints and DNA and check them against the appropriate database.
• Substance misuse: we will also collect a sample of hair to test for the presence of inappropriate substances.
• Vetting: this will assess you and your families’ criminal record, financial status and business interests.
• References: we'll ask for references from each of your previous employers and/or educational establishments for the last five years. Any gaps in employment will need to be explained and verified. If you haven't been in employment for five years, we'll ask for a character or educational reference.

If you have questions about the recruitment process, entry requirements, training, or progression get in touch. You can meet us at one of our recruitment events, email [email protected] or book a 1:1 recruitment call.

We are only accepting applications from experienced officers from Home Office forces who have completed their probationary period and are confirmed in rank.

To apply to transfer to Sussex Police, you must:

• Be a substantive officer (at appropriate rank) and not subject to a probationary period.
• Be a serving police officer in a Home Office Force.
• Pass the necessary vetting, occupational health and fitness checks. Such checks will not be carried out until after a successful interview.
• Have no outstanding discipline, integrity or performance issues.
• Be able to show commitment to achieving high levels of attendance.
• Demonstrate a passion and commitment to Sussex Police.
• Not have made an application to join any other force at the same time.
• Have resided in the UK for three years immediately prior to submitting your application.
• Not be a current or previous member of a proscribed terrorist organisation or group.
• Declare any business interest.
• Declare any membership or involvement with the reserve Forces.
• Not have tattoos which could cause offence (see below for full details).
• Have a full UK manual driving licence (by time of appointment).

Not have any existing County Court Judgements (CCJs) outstanding against you or have registered bankrupt and not have been discharged for at least three years.

How long does the transfer process take?

It can take approximately six months from applying to appointment.

Can I apply if I’m in a disciplinary process?

If you have any ongoing complaints or disciplinary procedures, you can still apply however these must be concluded with a satisfactory outcome in order to be appointed within Sussex Police.

What will my salary be?

We use the national pay scale and will put you on the same pay scale as you are currently on. You’ll also receive £2,000 South East Allowance per annum.

What happens with my pension?

Usually your pensionable salary is directly transferable from one force to another as long as there are no gaps in your service.

Can I choose where I will be stationed?

During the selection process you will be asked to identify which division of Sussex Police you would prefer. Your preference will be accommodated where we can but this may not always be possible and you could be posted to anywhere within the county. We review preferences, home address and current vacancies to determine a posting.

What shift patterns do you operate?

Sussex Police operates a number of different shift patterns designed to meet force and local policing operational requirements. If you are successful you will be notified of your posting and details of your exact station in your ‘Offer of Appointment’ letter.Once you receive this you can view your shift pattern at http://www.sectionshifts.co.uk/.

I am a Constable at the moment, but I have passed my NPPF Step Two Legal examination. Can I transfer in as a Sergeant?

No, we only accept level transfers. You can only apply for promotional opportunities when our promotion boards are advertised externally and you will be required to sit a promotion board panel. You can however level transfer to Sussex Police when we are accepting transfers at the rank of Constable and apply for promotion when the relevant board is held internally.

Do I have the right to work in the UK?

Your right to work in the UK depends on your immigration status - this is also called your ‘leave’. If you don’t have the right to work, you might be able to apply for it.

You automatically have the right to work in the UK if:

• you’re a British or Irish citizen.
• you have pre-settled or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme - or you’ve applied and you’re waiting for a decision.
• you have a family permit from the EU Settlement Scheme.
• you have indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
• you have right of abode in the UK.

You might have a right to work in the UK if you have a visa with a time limit. This is called having 'limited leave to enter or remain’. 

If you entered the UK illegally or your leave has ended, you don’t have the right to work in the UK.

How do I prove my right to work in the UK?

You might be able to prove your right to work online or by showing your employer certain documents. Any document you show your employer must be:

• valid - you can’t use a document that’s expired unless it’s a British or Irish passport.
• the original document - you can’t use a copy, however you can use a replacement birth certificate if you have lost the original.
• If your document is expiring soon and you’ve applied to extend your leave, you can still prove your right to work. You might need to use a different document or ask your employer to contact the Home Office Employer Checking Service (ECS) - it depends what kind of leave you have.

For further information about Right to work in the UK, please refer to the gov.uk website.

If you have any further questions about the transfer process, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected].