Police officer rewards and benefits
Being a police officer really is a job like no other. You will receive a highly competitive salary, a dynamic work environment, be part of a close team with job stability.
Read more about rewards and benefits of being a police officer below:
Your Pay
Police Constables are paid the following (as of April 2023):
On appointment - £30,039
On completion of 1 year Service - £32,685
On completion of 2 years’ Service - £35,330
Rising by annual increments over 10 years to: £48,237
Varied and interesting duties
No two days are ever the same and each shift will present you with new challenges. All new recruits have a two-year probationary period which will be spent working in response policing. You will:
- respond to emergency and non-emergency incidents
- detect and eliminate crime in our communities
- provide support to vulnerable individuals
- police public events
- support out emergency service colleagues
- deliver lifesaving medical treatment
- work with schools and community groups
Once you have completed the probationary period, you will continue your learning journey in response policing and may choose to apply for specialist roles and training.
A rewarding career
As a police officer you will make a difference every day to the people and communities you serve.
You will quickly see how your actions help people at their time of need. This is very rewarding.
Teamwork
Our officers always have someone at their side, you will have your partner, group, shift and division to support you throught your career.
When you become an officer you quickly become part of a close team and your colleagues quickly become your work family.
Everyone plays a vital role in delivering the best possible service.
It will be challenging, but you will also make life long friendships and share a few laughs along the way!
Career opportunities
All new recruits have a two-year probationary period which will be spent working in response policing.
During this time you will lean the most important lessons of your policing career and while you may have the opportunity to compete training in certain other areas, response policing will be your focus.
Once you have completed the probationary period, you will continue your learning journey in response policing and may choose to apply for specialist roles and training.
The options are only as limited as your imagination, but here are some examples:
- public order
- intelligence
- armed policing
- negotiator
- wildlife crime
- detective
- cybercrime
- roads policing
- counter terrorism policing
- child protection
Pension
The police pension scheme is one of the best public sector pension schemes available.
You are entitled to automatic entry into the contributory police pension scheme. This is a career average pension which is received at the retiral age of 60 for officers.
Officers may decide to work on past 60 and defer their pension.
If you are currently paying into a pension it may be possible to transfer it to the police scheme.
Further information can be found on the Scottish Public Pensions Agency website.
Work life balance
We understand that people want to enjoy a level of flexibility at work, as our lives change and evolve.
Police Scotland has a number of provisions in place to support a healthy work - life balance, what ever life throws at us, this includes:
- flexible working (including part-time working and full-time compressed hours)
- adoption, maternity and paternity leave
- shared parental leave (for the first year after a child is born)
- special leave (which covers both paid and unpaid leave for family emergencies)
- parental leave (a total of 18 weeks’ parental leave is available for each child under the age of 18)
- career breaks (process for taking unpaid time off for up to five years)
Health and wellbeing
We understand that being a police officer can test you mentally and physically. The wellbeing of our people is a priority for Police Scotland, and we have a wide range services in place to support you, if you need them, during your career. This includes:
- Occupational Health provision
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, which includes 24/7 in the moment support, resources and advice and access to free face to face or virtual counselling
- Eligibility to pay a small fee to access the Police Treatment Centres, which offer a wide range of physical and psychological support options
- Eligibility to join the Scottish Police Credit Union
- Eligibility to access Police Mutual Financial products and resources
- Eligibility to join Scottish Police Recreation Association (SPRA) and utilise gyms throughout the Police estate
Officers who are involved in a potentially traumatic incident whilst on duty are also eligible to a trauma risk management assessment to identify and provide support.
Dedicated financial services
Once you are part of the policing family you and your loved ones can access a range of specialist financial organisations.
These include the Scottish Police Credit Union and the Police Mutual Assurance Society.
These organisations offer financial services such as loans and savings which are only available to officers, staff and their families.
Discounts and recreation
Police Scotland has a Reward and Benefits Gateway, an online platform which gives officers and staff free access to an exciting range of offers and discounts, plus helpful wellbeing support.
You can also sign up to access exciting offers and discounts from the Scottish Police Recreation Association (SPRA). SPRA is also dedicated to promoting healthy balanced lifestyles for their members through a wide range of sport and recreational benefits.
As a serving officer you will also be eligible to apply for a Blue light Card with offers further discounts.
Are you ready for a job with real reward?
