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What an Opportunity. What a Job.

If you’re looking for a fresh challenge, a unique opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives and a career where every day has purpose, policing could be for you.

At Avon and Somerset Police, our vision is to deliver outstanding policing for everyone. Our officers are here to help people when they need us most, protect our communities and make a difference every day.

To do that, we need people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We believe individuality is a strength and that what you bring to policing can help us better understand and serve our communities.

What we offer

A career as a police officer gives you the opportunity to make a difference while continuing to learn, develop and build your career.

We believe in empowering our people to make decisions and see individuality as a strength. We are a courageous organisation committed to learning, and innovation is at the heart of what we do.

Whether through the latest technology, pioneering different approaches to policing, training or personal development, we are always looking for new ways to help our people perform at their best.

There are also opportunities to develop and progress throughout your career, experience different areas of policing and discover where your skills and interests could take you.

We place a great deal of importance on the wellbeing of our officers, staff and volunteers.

We have a number of professional services providing help and support when it is needed, including:

  • Occupational Health
  • Physical Development Services
  • Chaplaincy Service
  • Blue Light Champions
  • Dedicated Wellbeing Team

Our people also have access to supportive and active staff groups, networks and associations, including:

  • Association of Muslim Police
  • Christian Police Association
  • Disabled Police Association
  • Family Support Network
  • Gender Equality Network
  • LGBT+ Staff Network
  • Menopause Support Group
  • National Police Autism Association
  • Pagan Police Association (PPA)
  • Peer Support Network
  • Race, Equality and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Network
  • Unison
  • Women’s Network

Our networks provide opportunities to connect with colleagues, share experiences and access support throughout your career.

Alongside a career where you can make a difference, we offer a range of benefits and support, including:

  • 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days as length of service increases, plus public holidays
  • Flexible working as well as full-time, part-time and job-share opportunities on completion of your probation period
  • Allowances for working different shift patterns, including bank holiday payments
  • Training and development, including mentoring and leadership programmes
  • Opportunities for career progression across different areas of policing
  • A generous occupational sick pay scheme
  • Lifestyle benefits, including sports, gym and social facilities and activities
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Access to the Force Club
  • Access to the Blue Light Card discount scheme
  • Career break opportunities
  • Free parking at Headquarters and some of our local sites
  • Wellbeing and health support, including an employee assistance programme, physiotherapy and in-house Occupational Health services
  • Access to supportive and active staff groups, networks and associations
  • Our seven-point promise, which provides welfare and professional support to staff and officers who are assaulted or are victims of hate crime

We police 1,855 square miles and serve a diverse population of more than 1.65 million people and approximately 679,000 households.

Avon and Somerset is home to stunning areas of natural beauty, historic sites and vibrant urban communities. From coastal towns and villages and the hills of Exmoor to World Heritage cities and the multicultural vibrancy of Bristol, our force area provides a unique place to live, work and police.

Our policing areas include:

  • Bath and North East Somerset
  • Bristol
  • North Somerset
  • Somerset
  • South Gloucestershire

The variety of our communities means the job can be just as varied. You could find yourself policing a busy city centre, supporting a rural community, responding to an emergency or working with local people to solve the issues that matter to them.

We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment and want people from all backgrounds, with different professional and life experiences, to consider a career with us.

If you are neurodivergent, disabled or have a long-term health condition, reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

Find out about reasonable adjustments

Equity, diversity and inclusion

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds. Additional support is available through our Positive Action Programme.

Find out about equity, diversity and inclusion

You don’t need previous policing experience or to have always imagined yourself becoming a police officer.

What matters is the person you are, the experiences and skills you bring and your motivation to serve your community.

Explore what the job is really like, hear from our officers and find out whether policing could be the opportunity you’re looking for.

Ready to take the next step?

More Information
Our Team
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See what a career in policing could offer you

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