Police Officer - Stevenage, Luton, Colchester, Southend, Brighton, Maidstone, Ashford, Guildfor[...]

Overview

British Transport Police are recruiting Police Officers. Become a Police Officer in our B Division and join locations including Colchester, Southend, Luton, Stevenage, Brighton, Ashford, Maidstone, Guildford and Southampton. Holding a valid full manual UK driving licence is essential for all locations included on this advert. We are only recruiting for the locations specified in this advert. If these locations are not suitable, please wait for a future campaign that aligns better with your preferred location.

As a Police Officer with the British Transport Police, you’ll protect millions of passengers, staff and the public. We offer one of the highest starting salaries for Police Constables across England and Wales, along with an excellent benefits package, professional development opportunities and geographical flexibility. The role includes a wide variety of duties, from tackling serious and organised crime to addressing graffiti, theft and public reassurance. Your duties will include visible patrolling, responding to emergencies, conducting criminal investigations, gathering intelligence, and building trust with the communities we serve.

We do not guarantee eligibility if you have criteria listed under the \”What You’ll Need to Bring / Eligibility to Apply\” sections, which include prior vetting results, criminal history, immigration status, and other conditions described below.

What You’ll Get In Return

• Starting salary: £32,472 (plus additional paid allowances), rising year-on-year to £50,256 after five years.
• South East Allowances: £3,000 or £2,000 depending on location from training.
• Oyster card for personal and professional use.
• 25 days holiday, increasing with service.
• Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme.
• Voucher and incentive schemes, such as cycle-to-work, and a range of discounts.
• Continued investment in learning; supported by in-house Talent & Development teams.
• Promotion and development opportunities into different police specialisms.
• Specialist support from Occupational Health and wellbeing teams.
• Free eyesight tests.
• Eligibility for Blue Light Card.
• Become a member of the Police Federation for access to support from day one.
• Work-life balance options, including 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and other leave options.

Eligibility to Apply

• You will not be eligible to apply if you have recently been unsuccessful following interviews, applications or vetting checks within specified timeframes, or if you have a live investigation, a past custodial sentence, a bankruptcy, CCJ or unmanaged IVA, offensive tattoos (face/neck case-by-case), no permanent right to live and work in the UK, or inconsistent UK residence for the past 3 years.

What You’ll Bring

You don’t need prior policing experience—just the drive to make a difference and the confidence to handle a wide range of situations.

Key Qualities

• Strong communication skills
• Good judgement and problem-solving
• Empathy and emotional resilience
• The ability to build trust and stay calm under pressure

What Happens Next

From day one, you’ll get training and support to grow. Whether you’re interested in CID, Counter Terrorism, the Dog Unit, tackling County Lines, or another specialism, you’ll find opportunities to develop. At BTP, career progression is expected.

How to Apply

Applying is straightforward, with all applications completed online. As part of the process you will complete a Situational Judgement Test (SJT). If you do not pass the SJT, your application will not progress at this time, but you may reapply in the future when eligible.

We recommend attending a Q&A session ahead of submitting an application. Details and dates are available in the information set accompanying this advert. This campaign is for new recruits only; transferees should apply via a transferee-specific advert when available. Candidates who receive a conditional offer will remain in the pool for up to 12 months.

Application Deadline: Midnight on Monday 5 January 2026. If applications are high volume, the campaign may close earlier.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions or need support with your application, contact RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.

Protect with Compassion. Serve with Pride. Join British Transport Police and help create a safer future.