Close

Protect every journey

Police Staff

About the roles

Our police staff roles come in all shapes and sizes, from supporting frontline officers in the Control Room through to professional functions in People and Culture, Finance and Commercial Digital and Technology and other such roles. For more information on a specific role your interested in, please view the following pages:  

We recruit across three countries, with large hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow in particular. It’s hard to predict what roles we’ll be recruiting to and when, but you will always find our vacancies advertised on our careers page when we are recruiting.

Wherever you find yourself, you’ll be part of a friendly culture that helps to keep Britain’s railways running safely and smoothly.

British Transport Police is committed to building a flexible workplace that empowers our people to make choices that supports a work/life balance that works for them and our organisation.

Positive action

At BTP we are proud guardians of the railway and it is crucial that we represent the diverse communities we serve and protect. As ‘One BTP’ across the UK, we know that diversity, inclusion and belonging help us improve our decision making, foster creativity and drive innovation so all our people can thrive.

Our vacancies are open to everyone and all appointments are made based on merit. So that we can become more diverse we encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, women, people who have a disability, those who are neurodiverse and persons who identify as LGBTQI+. If you have the skills, experience and values that here in BTP we pride ourselves on then we would welcome you to apply.

For more information on Positive Action please click here or email the team on PART-recruitment@btp.police.uk

Benefits

We’re passionate about recognising and rewarding those who help us protect every journey. It’s you who makes the difference, so our benefits are designed with you in mind. Take a look at what’s on offer:

ico-service

Pension scheme

We offer a generous pension to our employees. For further information, please visit About us - Royal London or contact our Pensions Manager at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk

ico-service

Flexible Working

We promote modern and flexible ways of working across many of our roles, empowering people to choose how and where is best to carry out their role.

ico-service

Blue Light card

A Blue Light Card costs £4.99 for two-years and gives you access to a range of discounts, both online and on the high street

ico-service

Career Development

Where you start your career journey with us doesn’t have to be where you stay. A range of professions make up the BTP family and we provide you with the opportunities to develop yourself personally and professionally.

ico-service

Annual leave

Police Staff and PCSOs are entitled to 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 30 days with five years of service or more.

ico-service

Transport Benevolent Fund

A charity to support employees in the public transport industry.

ico-service

Maternity, paternity and adoption leave

We offer 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave after a qualifying period. Paid paternity leave is also available.

ico-service

Cycle to work scheme

You’ll have the opportunity to hire a bicycle from us to cycle to work and you won’t pay national insurance or tax contributions on what you spend up to £1,000.

ico-service

Travel on duty

Staff are able to request travel passes for specific work commitments.

ico-service

Season Ticket Loan

Police staff may apply for an interest free annual season ticket loan. The cost of the ticket is deducted through equal payments over ten 4-weekly pay periods.

Health and wellbeing benefits

ico-service

Employee assistance

BTP’s employee assistance programme is a free, confidential service which supports our employees in resolving personal problems and improving their overall wellbeing.

ico-service

Wellbeing hub

Internal knowledge hub containing news, information and resources on a variety of topics, wellbeing events and details of all our support services.

ico-service

Private medical healthcare

Private health insurance is available to police staff in senior grades and their families.

ico-service

Eye care provision

Computer users are entitled to eye care examinations and glasses paid for by BTP.

ico-service

CSSC Sports and Leisure

A not-for-profit organisation positively promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.

ico-service

Insurance

Preferential rates from Police Mutual available.

ico-service

Armed Forces Covenant

We are silver accredited under the Armed Forces Covenant and we support Territorial forces reservists, including paid time off to participate in training.

ico-service

Travel

Police staff may apply for an interest free annual season ticket loan. The cost of the ticket is deducted through equal payments over ten 4-weekly pay periods.

Training

Protecting every journey also means taking care of the career journeys of our people. That’s why, when you join us, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to develop both personally and professionally - taking your career in any direction.

Police Staff training can vary from online e-learning packages, on the job training, classroom programmes and sponsorship for external qualifications. We contribute towards one professional membership (terms apply). Your line manager will help to keep you on track with regular updates and help you to identify and fill any skill gaps you may have.

The Application Process

1

Your application will initially be screened to ensure that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Once this has been satisfied, the information you have provided in the application form will be assessed.

ico-tab
2

If you’re successful, you’ll be invited for an interview or assessment. We’ll be looking for evidence of the qualities you have to enable you to carry out your role. If you meet our high standards, you’ll receive a conditional offer and we’ll start your pre-employment checks.

ico-tab
3

Once you have been given a conditional offer, you will go through the full vetting process. This will include employment reference checks as well as our own baseline vetting. You’ll receive your offer letter or contract once these security checks have been successfully completed.

ico-tab

Eligibility

Before you make the decision to apply, you’ll need to make sure that you meet our eligibility criteria.

Vetting

It’s important that our Police staff and PCSOs provide the best possible service with the full confidence of the public they serve. That’s why every Police staff and PCSO recruit goes through a thorough vetting check as part of the application process.

Right to work in the UK

To join us, you must have the permanent right to live and work in the UK without any restrictions.

Residency

As a minimum, all applicants must have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. This is required to ensure we can conduct adequate vetting checks and this applies equally to all applicants, regardless of nationality.

Age

You must be a minimum of 18 years old to be employed. There is no maximum age for Police staff and PCSO applications.

Convictions and cautions

You will not be eligible to apply if you have ever received a prison sentence.

All other cautions, convictions and involvement with the police must be declared during the vetting process. This will not necessarily result in your application being withdrawn, as all applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Financial position

As part of your checks we will verify your financial position. Employees hold a privileged position and have access to a range of sensitive and valuable information. Potentially, this means employees are a heightened risk of being vulnerable to corruption. This means, applicants must to be free from the pressure of undischarged debts or liabilities and to be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.

Tattoos

Tattoos are not acceptable if:

  • They are on your face
  • Above the collar line on the front or side of your neck,
  • Are large on the back of your neck and cannot be easily covered
  • They could be considered in any way offensive, regardless of their location.

Visible tattoos are permissible on other areas of the body including hands, arms, legs, feet and on the back of the neck (providing the tattoo is discreet and behind the ear lobe).

Discreet tattoos on the ear are also considered acceptable. Consideration will be given to tattoos on the face that were necessary following medical procedures or for cosmetic procedures e.g. eyebrows.

You are encouraged to contact the recruitment team if you are at all unsure about your tattoos and we will advise you wherever possible.

You can do this by emailing us.

Contact us arrow
Inappropriate associations

You have to be able to conduct your role and responsibilities impartially and effectively. This means if you are currently, or have even been, associated with any group, society or individuals that could reasonably represent a conflict of interest, then you will not be eligible to apply.

HM Forces

Due to the timescales of our recruitment process, applications from service personnel will only be accepted if you have 12 months or less to serve before being discharged. You will need to attach with your application confirmation of your projected date of discharge. (e.g. a letter from your Commanding officer).

Education and skills

Each role will specify what qualifications are a requirement for appointment. For training and development purposes you may be required to produce examination certificates. If you are still in, or have recently left full-time education, we may also ask for a reference from the relevant institution.

Business interests

You will need to declare any other employment or business interest you have and intend to maintain so that this can be reviewed to ensure no conflict of interest with the police.

You will not normally be eligible for appointment as a Police officer if you hold any office or employment for hire or gain, or if you carry on any business in addition to being a Police officer.

 

Health and medical

Our employees may encounter situations that can be stressful, traumatic and at times, physically confrontational. Our people can work long hours and cover rotating shifts, so the role can be physically and mentally demanding. Therefore, it is important our employees are in good health to be able to undertake their duties safely.

To ensure we can support our employees’ wellbeing, we’ll ask you to provide relevant details of your health and medical history in accordance with any questions we have to ask during the application process.

Applicants with disabilities

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and will do all we can to make reasonable adjustments where possible. 

Communications Officers & Call Handlers
Recruitment Team Video

Search and apply for a Police Staff or PCSO role

Search for a role arrow