What is the role of a Dorset Police officer?
If you enjoy facing challenges, coming up with solutions to problems and want to keep your community safe – all while learning new skills – then a career in policing could be for you.
As a Dorset Police officer, you will engage directly with our communities, businesses and visitors and will be responsible for ensuring they receive the very best policing service.
We are accepting applications now for all four entry routes!
Application buddy to support you - Relocation package offered to all transferees - Military experience recognised instead of qualifications
Every day is different for our officers and detectives and if you ask any of them what they love most about the role – this is invariably the answer you will get.
As a Dorset Police officer, no day is the same and you will find yourself dealing with a wide range of situations.
We operate 24/7, 365 days a year as we strive to reduce crime and make members of our communities feel safe.
While we can offer you an exciting and varied career, it is important to remember that being a police officer is challenging. It will test you physically, mentally and emotionally as you deal with difficult, complex and sometimes violent individuals. This is why the training we offer is so important so we can help you protect the public, yourselves and your colleagues.
We welcome an application from you to become a Dorset Police officer and are looking for people who hold the right attributes and qualities so they can thrive in our organisation.
Here are some examples of the qualities we are looking for in candidates:
- You can deal with complex and, on some occasions, highly sensitive cases which require you to reason, record and evaluate fine details.
- You can ‘think on your feet’ as you exercise good problem-solving skills and respond positively and proactively to new challenges.
- You are willing to learn new skills and develop your existing ones.
- You can work well as part of an effective team within a highly disciplined organisation where respect and professionalism are at the forefront of everything we do.
- You can communicate well, both written and verbally.
- You can build positive relationships with people, whether they are vulnerable victims, members of diverse communities or external partners and stakeholders.
- You can remain calm and composed during stressful or volatile situations.
- You can handle traumatic incidents and communicate information sensitively.
- You can make impactful policing decisions whilst working under pressure, taking full accountability for them.
- You are keen to develop your practice and experience within the role.
- You can give clear and accurate evidence in court.
- You are flexible, willing to work across different areas of the county during shifts, nights and weekends – including bank holidays.
- You can work independently in a clerical environment, reading, writing and using IT equipment effectively.
- You can exercise reasonable physical force in restraint and retention in custody, when required to do so.
- You can adhere to the high standards of policing you have vowed to uphold in your privileged position as a Dorset Police officer.
Progression
You’ll start your career working within our neighbourhood teams, on response or within our Criminal Investigation Departments.
Once fully trained, our officers can apply for a range of roles across the Force, including firearms, the dog section and the Rural Crime Team, through to specialist investigation roles, including the Major Crime Investigation Team and the Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Team.
