There are a range of exciting opportunities open to you after you complete your two year probationary period and have also completed your one year commitment period to your initial District. You may choose to stay within the Local Policing Team, or to apply for a Specialist role.
Please check the pods below to explore where your career with the Police Service of Northern Ireland may lead you.
New Constables will spend the first three years attached to Local Policing Teams. You may wish to continue serving in Local Policing Teams however once confirmed in rank and having also completed your one year commitment period, a range of opportunities open up across the Service. Furthermore you may wish to seek promotion through the ranks as follows:
If you wish to take your police career in a particular direction see the Specialist Roles section for some examples and for further information.
Click on the photos below for more information on some of the specialisms.
Ensuring the safety and security of all road users.
Providing an effective, efficient, high quality approach to policing demands in PSNI, with specialist capability in search and public order.
Conduct investigations from crime scene to conclusion seeking prosecutions for the more serious and complex criminal cases on behalf of victims and the community.
Ensuring that risk assessment, risk management plans are undertaken in reference to registered sex offenders, violent offenders and potentially dangerous persons.
PSNI is a member of The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI). The CSE sub-group is currently chaired by a Detective Chief Superintendent, who supports key safeguarding agencies in dealing with CSE. In February 2017 PSNI contributed to the Northern Ireland CSE awareness week where key messages were disseminated on a daily basis from each SBNI member agency. A total of 81,600 media views and 1,500 media engagements resulted from this social media exercise on PSNI Twitter alone.
Officers employed in the field of CSE recently undertook a two day training event which was held in conjunction with the charity Barnardo’s. The PSNI Crime Training Department facilitated this training and contributed to it. Half of this training course focused on identifying CSE, learning how it manifests itself and the impact on victims and survivors; the other half was led by crime trainers focusing on optimising the policing response, the legislative framework that exists to assist police officers, and tactics training concerning disruption and enforcement techniques that could be considered if appropriate.
A wider training programme was also completed in January 2017 where frontline police officers received training in respect of missing persons and CSE. This significant project resulted in thousands of police officers being educated as to what CSE is, the unique challenges it presents to policing and how to effectively respond to it.
Detective Superintendent Deirdre Bones emphasises, “as police officers, it is our responsibility to protect those young people at risk of exploitation and disrupt and prosecute offenders”.
Providing armed protection to various visiting members of the Royal Family, Government Ministers and members of the judicial system
Intelligence drives police operations against Child Sexual Exploitation, cyber-enabled crime, Human Trafficking, drugs, robbery, paramilitarism and the security threat.
To equip you for a role in Intelligence branch you will receive bespoke training, whether that be on how to handle information to grade and sanitise to protect the confidentiality of the person providing it through to specific analytical training. You must have completed your probation, be operationally fit prior to applying and have a police driving card. Officers who apply will go through a number of assessments and development as follows:
To utilise police dogs to prevent and respond to crime and disorder.
Keeping individuals and communities safe from crimes such as fraud, human exploitation, illegal commodity supply, hate crime and hacking.
*‘computer network’ refers to a number of connected computers and or other electronic devices. The computers and devices which are part of the network can "talk" to each other and exchange information.
Within the police service being a leader is not just about rank or grade; individuals at every level are being exposed to situations requiring them to demonstrate leadership ability. The nature of the service we deliver and the role we perform in society brings with it significant responsibility and an expectation that everyone in our organisation is capable of fulfilling a leadership role.
The PSNI take a pragmatic approach to developing our leaders and managers; one that recognises both the organisation's and the individual’s responsibility and contribution with regards their own development at the various levels of police leadership.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to attracting, developing, progressing and retaining highly talented officers.
The Fast Track Programme is a development and promotion mechanism used to enable the most talented to advance to the rank of Inspector within two years.
The Fast Track Programme focuses on leadership, management and the provision of operational skills, knowledge and experience, and provides an understanding of policy and practice through study and practical experience.
Training will continue to be a vital aspect of your role and courses are run locally within your district, department and at the Police College.
The mandatory training courses that you will continue to complete during your time as an officer are outlined below.
To train police officers in Tactical Firearms skills commensurate with the core skills profile. Police officers are required to carry out this training twice a year.
To train non-operational police officers in Firearms skills and use of force commensurate with the core skills profile. Police officers are required to carry out this training once a year.
To enable you to achieve competency in skills necessary to provide initial assistance or treatment to someone who is injured or suddenly taken ill. Police officers are required to carry out this training once every three years.
To provide you with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to enable you to manage conflict and ensure the safety of police officers and the public whilst carrying out your duties. Police officers are required to carry out this training once a year.