From the Forces
to the Police
What changes (and what does not) when you move from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or RAF into a police force in England and Wales. The national stages you still have to pass, how to time an application with your discharge, what resettlement can pay for, what forces say they offer veterans plus the honest numbers on pay and pension.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 21 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Yes. There is no national fast track: you pass the same four legal stages as everyone else (application form, National Sift, online assessment and a force interview), then medical, fitness, references and vetting. Your service still helps. Time posted abroad counts as UK residence, many forces accept military experience instead of a level 3 qualification and some run local veteran pathways. Plan for a recruitment process of around four to six months and check your force's own rules.
This page covers joining a Home Office police force in England and Wales as a police constable after regular service in the armed forces. Police Scotland, the PSNI and the national forces (British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the MOD Police) recruit separately. Resettlement entitlements depend on your own service, so check them with your unit resettlement staff. Nothing here is a judgement about your own application.
The short answer for service leavers
- You can join. Service leavers apply like any other candidate. The national recruitment site says there is no specific national pathway for ex-military personnel.
- The stages are the same. The national application form, the National Sift, the online assessment process and an in-person force interview are legal requirements for every new constable since 17 March 2026.
- Residency is usually fine. Service abroad with HM Armed Forces is an exception to the three-year UK residency expectation.
- Qualifications can be swapped for service. Many forces accept military experience instead of a level 3 qualification. The length of service they ask for varies.
- Timing matters. College guidance warns that resettlement can last up to 18 months; forces may hesitate if you have more than 12 months left to serve.
- Pay depends on your rank. A new constable starts on £32,255 from 1 September 2026. That can be a pay cut for a corporal or above. You also start paying into a pension.
There is no national fast track, but there are local pathways
The national recruitment site, joiningthepolice.co.uk, is direct about it: "Currently, there is no specific national pathway for ex-military personnel to join the police service." It says you would apply in the same way as a regular member of the public. It adds that some forces are starting to offer specific pathways in their local area, so it is worth checking your chosen force's website.
In practice "local pathway" covers a few different things, which we explain further down:
- An entry requirement alternative: military service accepted instead of A levels or another level 3 qualification.
- Support with the application: a named team, an armed forces staff network or attendance at Career Transition Partnership events.
- A guaranteed interview for veterans who meet the essential criteria, as some employers offer under their Armed Forces Covenant pledge. In policing this cannot replace the national stages.
None of these changes the four legal stages. Since the Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 came into force on 17 March 2026, regulation 10(1)(eb) of the Police Regulations 2003 requires every candidate, other than an officer transferring from another police force, to complete the national application form, pass the national sift test, pass the online assessment process and pass an in-person interview with the force that meets the national standard.
Eligibility: what is different for service leavers
Most entry requirements apply to you exactly as they apply to anyone else. Four work differently, or come up more often, for people leaving the forces:
| Requirement | General rule | For service leavers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK residency | Three years' continual UK residency immediately before applying, for vetting | Residency and service with HM Armed Forces is an exception; you are classed as resident in the UK while serving abroad | College pre-employment guidance; national recruitment site |
| Qualifications | Level 3 (apprenticeship and constable entry routes) or a degree (degree holder route) | A chief officer can accept training or work experience equivalent to level 3; many forces name military service | Annex BA; force pages |
| References | Satisfactory character references; five years of history verified | Also satisfactory proof of good conduct while serving, normally a discharge certificate | Reg 10(1)(b); College guidance |
| Nationality | UK or EEA national, or indefinite leave to remain | Commonwealth service leavers need indefinite leave after discharge; there is an armed forces route to it | Reg 10(1)(a); GOV.UK |
Everything else is the same as for any candidate: you can apply from 17 and be appointed from 18 and there is no national upper age limit. You must pass the medical and reach level 5.4 on the 15m multi-stage fitness test. Vetting looks at your record, finances and associates. Our full guide to police entry requirements covers each one. The eligibility check gives a quick read on where you stand.
Military service instead of A levels: what the rules and forces say
The national list of qualifications is in Home Office Circular 002/2024, Annex BA, in force from 1 April 2024. For the apprenticeship (PCDA) and constable entry programme (PCEP) routes it lets a chief officer accept a level 3 qualification, an overseas equivalent, or "training or work experience, whether undertaken in or outside England and Wales" that the chief officer considers equivalent to level 3. It also names service as a special constable, a PCSO or police staff. It does not name the armed forces. Military service fits under the training or work experience heading, at each chief officer's discretion. The degree holder route (DHEP) needs a degree or an overseas equivalent; military experience does not replace that.
So the answer depends on the force. These are examples of what individual forces publish, not national rules. They change:
| Force | What it says it accepts instead of level 3 | Where we read it |
|---|---|---|
| Devon and Cornwall Police | "You do not need to have the listed entry requirement qualifications if you hold at least 18 months service in the military." | Veteran recruitment page, read 21 October 2026 (copyright 2021 to 2025) |
| Lancashire Constabulary | PCEP applicants without A levels or level 3 can apply if they left the armed forces within the last 2 years after at least 2 years' service | "Military to Civilian" page, read 21 October 2026 |
| Thames Valley Police | At least one year of relevant professional experience, listing the armed forces first, assessed case by case (PCEP, PCDA and DCEP) | Recruitment FAQ dated September 2024 |
| Suffolk Constabulary | At least 4 years' service (3 if before 1999) with an exemplary discharge reference, plus level 2 English | Entry routes page, read through search results only (the site blocks automated access) |
The spread is wide: 18 months in one force, four years in another. Two practical points follow. First, if you do not have level 3 and have short service, compare forces before you choose one. Second, look at the conditions as well as the length: an exemplary discharge reference, a time limit since leaving or a separate English and maths requirement can matter as much as the years. Our qualifications guide explains the routes. The force finder links to every force's recruitment page.
Commonwealth and Gurkha service leavers: status comes first
If you are not a British, Irish or other EEA national, there is one extra step. While you serve, section 8(4) of the Immigration Act 1971 means the Act's immigration provisions (other than deportation) do not apply to you as a member of the home forces subject to service law. That exemption ends when you leave. Regulation 10(1)(a) of the Police Regulations 2003 then requires indefinite leave to enter or remain before you can be appointed as a constable.
GOV.UK sets out an armed forces route to indefinite leave:
- you can apply if you are leaving or have left the UK armed forces and have served for at least four years;
- there is no minimum service if you were medically discharged for an injury or illness caused by your service;
- you can apply up to 18 weeks before discharge and must apply within two years of the date you are discharged;
- GOV.UK listed the fee as £3,226 for each person applying on 21 October 2026, with no fee if you served at least six years or were medically discharged for a service-related injury or illness;
- family members and former Gurkhas or Hong Kong military unit veterans have their own rules on the same guide.
For a police application, the order matters: secure indefinite leave, then apply, or ask the force whether it will accept an application timed so that you hold indefinite leave by appointment. We found no national rule on that. The visa-by-visa position for everyone else is in can I join the police on a visa?
PolicePay does not give immigration advice. Use GOV.UK, your unit's welfare or resettlement staff, or a regulated immigration adviser for questions about your own status. Do not let the two-year window after discharge pass without acting.
The stages you still have to pass
Your rank, operational tours and courses do not exempt you from anything. The order, for a new constable in England and Wales:
| Stage | What it is | Where your service helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1. National application form | Confirms you are eligible under regulation 10 | Residency exception; qualification alternative |
| 2. National Sift | Online situational judgement test (15 scenarios) and behavioural styles questionnaire (80 statements), both untimed | Judgement under pressure, but the scenarios are civilian policing ones |
| 3. Online assessment process | Competency-based interview, written exercise and briefing exercise, against the Competency and Values Framework | Plenty of real examples, if you translate them |
| 4. In-person force interview | An interview with the force that meets the national standard | Your motivation for policing, not soldiering, is what they test |
| Then: medical, fitness, references, vetting | Conditional offer checks; vetting clearance within six months before appointment | Fitness usually; references need proof of good conduct |
The sift is the stage service leavers most often underestimate. It asks how a police officer should act in civilian situations, where the answer the College rewards may differ from what worked in a military chain of command: listening, de-escalation, respect for the public's rights and recording decisions. Practising the format before you apply costs nothing.
Applying while you are still serving
You can apply before you leave. Many people do. The national guidance gives forces a reason to be careful about how early. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance says:
"Resettlement periods for members of the services can be as much as 18 months. Police forces may want to consider this before accepting applications from service personnel who have more than 12 months before their discharge."
Put that next to the other timings that apply to everyone:
- the national recruitment site says recruitment often takes around four to six months, varying by force;
- since 13 July 2026 you can only apply for vetting clearance after completing the four recruitment stages. Clearance must have been granted within the six months before your appointment. If your start date slips beyond that, you must reapply for clearance;
- forces recruit in intakes, so the start date is set by the force's training course, not by your discharge date.
| Time to discharge | Sensible police steps |
|---|---|
| More than 12 months | Research forces and routes, check the qualification rule, start sift practice and fitness. Ask the force whether it accepts applications this early. |
| 6 to 12 months | The usual window to apply. Tell the force your discharge date on the form. Request your discharge paperwork plan from your unit. |
| Under 6 months | Apply as soon as a window opens. Have referees and five years of history ready so references and vetting do not stall. |
| Already left | Check any time limit in your force's veteran route (Lancashire's is two years since leaving). Resettlement support continues for up to two years after discharge. |
The bands are our suggestion from the timings above, not a national rule. Your own exit date depends on your service's rules on notice and resettlement, which your chain of command and resettlement staff can confirm. Do not hand in notice on the strength of a conditional offer alone: the offer still depends on medical, fitness, references and vetting.
Resettlement and the Career Transition Partnership
GOV.UK describes the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) as "the official resettlement service for the Armed Forces". What you can use depends on your length of service:
| Programme | Who | When |
|---|---|---|
| Core Resettlement Programme | More than six years' service | From two years before discharge to two years after; up to 35 days' Graduated Resettlement Time, depending on service |
| Employment Support Programme | Four to six years' service | From two years before discharge to two years after |
| Future Horizons | Early service leavers, under four years | Two years after discharge |
| CTP Assist | Personnel on recovery duties and others facing significant challenges | Regardless of time served |
Some police forces work through the CTP. Devon and Cornwall Police's veteran page says it offers pathways for service leavers through the CTP, military careers fairs and other initiatives. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme's Gold award criteria include engaging with the CTP to recruit service leavers, so a Gold award force is one that has committed to that.
How you could use resettlement for a police application, subject to your own entitlement and your resettlement staff's agreement:
- CV and interview workshops, then practise the police interview format separately, because it is scored against the Competency and Values Framework;
- time to attend force open days, assessment and fitness test dates (ask whether these can use Graduated Resettlement Time);
- a level 3 or level 2 English or maths qualification if your chosen force needs one and does not accept your service instead;
- planning money for the gap between your last military pay and your first police pay.
Force veteran schemes and the Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant describes itself as a promise by the nation that those who serve or have served and their families are treated fairly. Organisations sign it; many police forces have. Signing does not change regulation 10 or the national recruitment stages. We found nothing in the Covenant that guarantees a police job. The statutory Covenant duty guidance on GOV.UK concentrates on healthcare, education and housing, not recruitment.
Where you see real commitments is in individual forces' pledges and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). GOV.UK's ERS guidance, updated 14 October 2026, says the Silver award requires an employer to show that service personnel and the armed forces community are not disadvantaged in recruitment and selection. It must also give reservists at least five days' extra leave for training. Gold requires at least ten days' additional paid leave for reservists and engagement with the CTP to recruit service leavers.
Commitments forces state on their own pages (examples only; we did not check all 43 forces):
| Force | What the force says |
|---|---|
| Lancashire Constabulary | Holds the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award; a Workforce Representative Team supports service leavers' applications; an Armed Forces Staff Support Network; time and support for reservist commitments; also points veterans, reservists and spouses to PCSO, control room and custody detention roles |
| Devon and Cornwall Police | Recognises military skills, qualifications and competencies throughout recruitment; pathways through the CTP; a Positive Action Team can help before you apply; supports reservists' training and deployment commitments |
| Suffolk Constabulary | Its Armed Forces Covenant page says it guarantees an interview to eligible applicants who meet the essential criteria (not a job offer) and that it holds a Silver award (read through search results only) |
If your chosen force mentions a guaranteed interview, ask what it means after 17 March 2026. The four legal stages, including the National Sift and the online assessment process, still have to be passed by every candidate, so a guarantee can only sit within that process. Ask too whether the force has a veterans' network you can talk to before applying.
References, service records and vetting
Regulation 10(1)(b) requires every candidate to produce satisfactory references as to character and, if you served in the armed forces, "satisfactory proof of his good conduct while so serving". Regulation 10(3) defines the armed forces as the naval, military or air forces of the Crown. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance explains how forces handle it:
- discharge certificates or equivalent, such as a letter from a commanding officer for serving personnel, will normally be satisfactory proof of good conduct;
- where there is concern or confusion about why the highest level of discharge assessment was not given, the force will make further enquiries and can, with your agreement, contact the service for a copy of your record;
- the vetting department also requests Ministry of Defence conduct history;
- drug or alcohol problems are not reflected in the assessment unless they had an adverse effect on performance;
- the assessment takes account of overall conduct and recorded offences; spent convictions are taken into account, but minor punishments, awards and dispensations more than five years before the assessment are disregarded.
Military convictions are on the PNC. The same guidance says serving members of the armed forces convicted of any criminal offence by a military tribunal will have it recorded on the Police National Computer, including any aspect of a conditional discharge. Vetting will find it, you are expected to disclose it and it is assessed case by case. Since 13 July 2026 the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 also say a candidate convicted of or cautioned for any offence is not suitable for clearance unless particular circumstances justify it. Declare everything, then let the force assess it.
Your five-year history. Forces verify at least five years of employment or education. For serving personnel the MoD is your current employer. The College guidance says the current employer is not normally contacted until an offer is being considered. Our guide to police references covers armed forces references in detail. Our guide to pre-employment checks explained sets out the order of every check after a conditional offer.
- Your discharge certificate or, while serving, how to get a commanding officer's letter.
- Dates and locations of postings for the last five years, including overseas, for the vetting form.
- Details of any service offence, summary hearing or court martial outcome, with the dates.
- Certificates for qualifications gained in service, if you are relying on them.
- Contact details for referees who can cover any period outside the forces.
Medical and fitness after service
Fitness. Recruits must reach level 5.4 on the 15m multi-stage fitness test. Most service leavers will find it well within reach, but it is a different test from service fitness tests, with 15m shuttles and turns. Try it before the day with our free 15m bleep test simulator.
Medical. Home Office Circular 59/2004, the published national medical standard, says candidates must not be excluded automatically because of a medical condition and that each case is assessed individually. That matters for conditions linked to service, such as musculoskeletal injuries, hearing loss or mental health. Declare them honestly and have evidence of how they are managed. See joining with a medical condition and mental health and neurodiversity in recruitment.
If you were medically discharged, ask the force early how its occupational health provider will assess your condition against police duties, which differ from military ones. The national standard's principle is individual assessment of the condition, so ask how that will be applied to you.
Pay: army rank against a new constable
New constables in England and Wales start on pay point 1, £32,255 from 1 September 2026. Chief officers can start new constables on point 2, £33,609. The scale rises with annual increments, subject to the pay progression standard, to £52,015 at point 7. London forces add London Weighting and allowances: the Metropolitan Police said on 12 October 2026 that new recruits get "a starting salary of more than £43,000".
Against Army basic pay from 1 April 2026, as set out in the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body's 2026 report and on our police vs Army salary page (lowest trade band, including X-Factor):
| Army rank (1 April 2026) | Army basic pay range | A new constable's £32,255 compared |
|---|---|---|
| Private | £27,282 to £38,553 | Higher than a new private's pay; lower than a private's at the top of the range |
| Lance corporal | £35,310 to £38,553 | Lower |
| Corporal | £40,989 to £43,826 (£44,322 to £48,497 on the highest band) | Clearly lower |
| Sergeant | £46,022 to £50,598 | Clearly lower; a constable reaches £52,015 at point 7 |
| Staff sergeant | £51,615 to £60,271 | Clearly lower |
Three things change the comparison beyond basic pay:
- Pension contributions. Armed Forces Pension Scheme members pay 0%. Police 2015 scheme members pay 12.88% to 14.22% of pensionable pay from 1 April 2026; on a starting salary (Up to £37,035) the rate is 12.88%, about £4,154 a year before tax relief.
- Accommodation. The AFPRB report records heavily subsidised service accommodation. Police officers in England and Wales generally pay market rent or a mortgage.
- Progression. A constable moves up the points with annual increments: £34,972 at point 3 and £39,058 at point 5, for example. Overtime is paid to constables under the Police Regulations; the Army pay tables have no hourly overtime element.
So the honest answer to "will I take a pay cut?" is: probably not as a new private, quite likely as a junior NCO and almost certainly as a senior NCO, at least for the first few years. Whether the gap is worth it is your decision. The calculator below puts your own numbers on it.
Can you afford the switch? Work out your monthly gap (free)
Enter your current take-home pay and see it against a new constable's take-home from 1 September 2026, on point 1 or point 2 and with or without London or South East allowances. The calculator shows the monthly gap and what the recruitment wait could cost you. It runs in your browser.
Free calculator: nothing saved
Can I afford to join the police?
Your pay now against a new constable’s take-home from 1 September 2026, the monthly gap and how quickly it closes.
Remember to compare like with like: your service pay after any accommodation and food charges, against police take-home after pension contributions and your own housing costs. Our police salary calculator gives a full take-home breakdown for any pay point and force.
Your armed forces pension and the police pension
The two are separate schemes. Joining the police does not merge them. Nothing you build in the police scheme replaces what you have earned in the forces scheme.
| Point | Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 | Police Pension Scheme 2015 (England and Wales) |
|---|---|---|
| Member contributions | 0% | 12.88% to 14.22% of pensionable pay from 1 April 2026 |
| Employer contributions | Not covered here | 35.3% of pensionable pay (scheme-wide rate from 1 April 2024) |
| Normal pension age | 60 | 60 |
| Leaving early | Early Departure Payment for regulars leaving at 40 or over with at least 20 years' qualifying service; otherwise deferred benefits | Not relevant on joining |
Normal pension age of 60 for both comes from section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013, which sets 60 for members of police forces and the armed forces in the 2015 schemes. The Early Departure Payment conditions are in regulation 8 of the Armed Forces Early Departure Payments Scheme Regulations 2014.
Transferring. GOV.UK says that if you leave without immediate benefits you have the option to transfer the value of your deferred pension benefits to other defined benefit schemes. Whether the police scheme would accept a transfer and what it would buy are questions for both scheme administrators. A transfer is not automatically a good idea. GOV.UK also says a resettlement grant may have to be repaid in part or in full if you are re-employed after leaving, so read the re-employment booklet it points to. Our guide to transferring into or out of the police pension has more on transfers.
Service police, the MOD Police and Home Office police
Service leavers from the Royal Military Police, RAF Police or Royal Navy Police often ask whether they can transfer. The answer turns on what each organisation is:
- Service police are defined in section 375 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 as the Royal Navy Police, the Royal Military Police and the Royal Air Force Police. They police people subject to service law.
- The Ministry of Defence Police is a police force established under section 1 of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987, made up of persons nominated by the Secretary of State. It describes its work as specialist work protecting the nation's defence assets.
- Home Office police forces are the territorial forces of England and Wales, maintained by a local policing body (Police Act 1996, section 101). This page is about joining one of those.
Regulation 10 exempts a candidate "applying to transfer to the force from another police force" from the four national stages. On our reading, a service police force and the MOD Police are not forces maintained by a local policing body, so a service policeman or MOD Police officer applies as a new candidate. We found no national transfer route; ask the force whether it has any local arrangement. Your investigative and custody experience is still strong evidence for the interview and, in some forces, for a detective route. Our guide to transferring between forces covers moves within England and Wales.
Turning service examples into STAR answers
The online assessment interview and the force interview ask how you have handled situations in the past. The online assessment interview tests five areas: the values courage, public service and respect and empathy, plus the competencies we take ownership and we are innovative and open-minded. You will have more material than most candidates. The risk is how you tell it.
- Say "I", not "we". Assessors score what you did. Section and troop stories drift into "we"; pull out your own decision.
- Drop the jargon. Replace ranks, acronyms and kit names with plain words a civilian assessor understands.
- Pick civilian-relevant moments. Dealing with a distressed member of the public, challenging a colleague's behaviour, handling a welfare issue or adapting a plan show the CVF better than a firefight.
- Show respect and empathy. Policing is by consent. Examples where you listened, explained and treated people fairly score better than ones where you simply gave orders.
- Keep it shareable. Never use classified or sensitive operational detail. Choose an example you can describe openly.
Situation: on a UK training area, a junior soldier in my section told me a more senior soldier had been making racist comments to him. Task: as his section commander I had to deal with it fairly and quickly. Action: I listened, wrote down what he said, reassured him he would not be penalised for speaking up, raised it the same day through the formal route even though the senior soldier was well liked. I kept checking on him. Result: it was investigated, the behaviour stopped and he stayed in the section. I learned that challenging someone senior is uncomfortable but necessary. This maps to courage and to respect and empathy.
Our guide to STAR interview answers explains the structure. The courage example answers shows the value most service leavers can evidence well. Then try one answer out loud:
Try one out loud. Answer a practice question free and get a scored result in about a minute. No account. Practise in the free police mock interview
Worked timeline (illustrative, not a real case)
April, 11 months out: reads the force pages for two forces near home. One accepts 18 months' military service instead of level 3; the other wants four years with an exemplary reference. Both are fine for him. He starts SJT practice and the 15m bleep test.
June: books Core Resettlement Programme workshops. Asks the first force whether it will take an application nine months before discharge; it says to apply in its September window.
September to December: national application form, National Sift, online assessment and force interview. Puts his discharge date on the form.
January to February: conditional offer. Medical, fitness test, references (commanding officer's letter, then discharge certificate) and vetting, with MoD conduct history requested. Clearance is granted in February.
April: starts the force's next intake, inside the six-month window after clearance. His basic pay drops from corporal pay to £32,255. He now pays 12.88% into his pension, so he planned the first year's budget during resettlement.
Real timings vary by force and intake. The free recruitment timeline planner maps the stages to your own dates.
Service leaver checklist
- Check your status. British, Irish or other EEA national, or indefinite leave needed? Commonwealth service leavers: apply for indefinite leave from 18 weeks before discharge.
- Choose a route. PCDA, PCEP, DHEP (degree needed) or the pre-join degree, depending on what your force runs.
- Check the qualification rule and whether the force accepts your length of service instead of level 3.
- Fix your timing around discharge, the College's 12-month note and the force's intakes.
- Book resettlement support through the CTP programme you are entitled to.
- Practise the National Sift and translate three or four service examples into STAR answers.
- Prepare your paperwork: discharge certificate or CO's letter, five years of postings and addresses, any service offences.
- Test your fitness on the 15m shuttle, not your service test.
- Run the numbers on pay, pension contributions and housing.
- Ask the force about veterans' support, networks and any guaranteed interview pledge.
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Myths about moving from the forces to the police
- "Ex-forces skip the assessments." No. The four national stages are legal requirements for every new constable except transferring officers.
- "There is a national veterans' fast track." The national recruitment site says there is no specific national pathway; some forces run local ones.
- "Any military service replaces A levels everywhere." It is each chief officer's decision. Forces we checked ranged from 18 months to four years, some with extra conditions.
- "Time abroad on operations breaks residency." Service abroad with HM Armed Forces is an exception. The national site says you are classed as UK resident.
- "Military records stay with the MoD." Vetting requests MoD conduct history. Military tribunal convictions are on the Police National Computer.
- "RMP officers can transfer straight across." On our reading of the regulations they apply as new candidates; we found no national transfer route.
- "The Covenant guarantees me a job." It is a promise of fair treatment. Some forces pledge guaranteed interviews; none can bypass the national stages.
- "My forces pension moves to the police automatically." They are separate schemes. Any transfer is a separate decision.
What to ask and who to contact
Questions for the force recruitment team:
- Do you accept my length of service instead of a level 3 qualification? On what conditions?
- How early before my discharge date will you accept an application?
- Do you offer a guaranteed interview or other support for service leavers? How does it fit the national stages?
- Is there an armed forces network I can speak to before applying?
- Does any of my military service count towards your training programme or a detective route?
- For RMP, RAF Police or RN Police: do you have any local arrangement for service police?
Who can help with what:
- Your unit resettlement staff and the CTP: your resettlement entitlement, Graduated Resettlement Time and courses.
- Your chain of command: notice, discharge dates and commanding officer's letters.
- The force recruitment team or vetting unit: eligibility, timing and anything in your record.
- Veterans UK and the police pension administrator: pensions and transfers.
- GOV.UK or a regulated immigration adviser: indefinite leave after service.
Moving from another civilian job instead? See our guide to a career change into the police.
What we could not verify
- Every force's veteran arrangements. We read Lancashire, Devon and Cornwall and Thames Valley directly. Suffolk's pages block automated access, so its entry and Covenant details come from search results; check the live page. We did not check all 43 forces.
- Whether a sentence of service detention counts as a custodial sentence for automatic disqualification under regulation 10(2A). The regulation does not say; ask the force vetting unit before applying if this applies to you.
- Whether an Early Departure Payment or a deferred AFPS pension is affected by joining the police. We found nothing saying it is, but did not read the full scheme rules. Ask Veterans UK.
- Whether the police scheme accepts transfers from the AFPS on any particular terms. Ask the police pension administrator.
- How long resettlement and notice periods are for your service. They depend on your service and terms; we did not set them out.
- Whether Graduated Resettlement Time can be used for police assessment days. Ask your resettlement staff.
- Reservists. This page is about regular service leavers. Some forces say they support reservist commitments; we did not check the rules on serving as a police officer and a reservist.
This page is general information, not advice about your own application, pension or immigration status. The regulation text on legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK and your chosen force's recruitment pages take priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join the police after the army?
Yes. Service leavers apply like any other candidate: the national application form, the National Sift, the online assessment process and an in-person force interview, then medical, fitness, references and vetting. Your service can help: time posted abroad counts as UK residence for vetting. Many forces accept military experience in place of a level 3 qualification.
Is there a fast track into the police for ex-military?
Not nationally. The national recruitment site says there is currently no specific national pathway for ex-military personnel and you apply in the same way as a member of the public. It adds that some forces offer local pathways, such as Lancashire Constabulary's Military to Civilian route, so check your chosen force's website.
Can I join the police while still serving?
Yes, you can apply while serving and plan your police start date around your discharge. College of Policing guidance says resettlement can take up to 18 months and that forces may want to consider this before accepting applications from service personnel with more than 12 months to go before discharge. Ask the force how it handles your discharge date.
Does military service count instead of A levels for the police?
Often, but by force decision. Home Office Annex BA lets a chief officer accept training or work experience equivalent to a level 3 qualification for the apprenticeship and constable entry routes. Armed forces service is not named in it. Forces set their own rules: Devon and Cornwall Police says 18 months' military service is enough. Lancashire accepts two years' service if you left within the last two years.
Does serving abroad affect the police residency rule?
Normally not. College of Policing guidance lists residency and service with HM Armed Forces as an exception to the three-year UK residency expectation. The national recruitment site says that if you lived outside the UK while serving with the armed forces you are classed as resident in the UK.
Do ex-forces have to pass the National Sift?
Yes. Since 17 March 2026 regulation 10(1)(eb) of the Police Regulations 2003 requires every constable candidate, except transferring officers, to complete the national application form and pass the national sift test, the online assessment process and an in-person force interview. Military service does not exempt you from any of them.
What references do armed forces leavers need for the police?
Regulation 10(1)(b) requires satisfactory proof of good conduct for anyone who served in the armed forces. College guidance says a discharge certificate or equivalent, such as a commanding officer's letter for serving personnel, is normally enough, but forces make further enquiries if the highest discharge assessment was not given. Vetting also requests Ministry of Defence conduct history.
Will a military conviction show up in police vetting?
Yes. College of Policing guidance says offences committed by serving members of the armed forces and convicted by a military tribunal are recorded on the Police National Computer, including any conditional discharge. They will be found in vetting checks, are expected to be disclosed and are assessed case by case. Declare them on your application.
Can a Commonwealth soldier join the UK police?
Yes, once they hold indefinite leave to remain. Regulation 10 requires a candidate who is not a UK or EEA national to have indefinite leave. GOV.UK says service leavers who have served at least four years can apply for indefinite leave, from up to 18 weeks before discharge and within two years after. There is no fee if you served at least six years.
Can I transfer from the Royal Military Police to a civilian police force?
Not as a transferee, on our reading. The Royal Military Police is a service police force under the Armed Forces Act 2006, not a force maintained by a local policing body, so the transferee exceptions in regulation 10 do not appear to apply. You would apply as a new candidate through all four stages. Your investigative experience is still useful evidence.
Will I take a pay cut joining the police from the army?
It depends on your rank. A new constable starts on £32,255 from 1 September 2026, or £33,609 where the force starts recruits on point 2. That is more than a private's starting pay but less than a corporal's. Police officers also pay 12.88% to 14.22% into their pension, while Armed Forces Pension Scheme members pay nothing.
What happens to my armed forces pension if I join the police?
Your Armed Forces Pension Scheme rights are separate from the police pension and stay with the forces scheme. GOV.UK says members leaving without immediate benefits can transfer the value of deferred benefits to other defined benefit schemes. Whether a transfer suits you is a decision to take with both scheme administrators and, if needed, a regulated financial adviser.
Is there an age limit for joining the police after the forces?
There is no national upper age limit for police constables in England and Wales. You can apply from 17 and be appointed from 18. Some forces publish their own guidance on older applicants, so check your chosen force. The fitness test, medical and the training programme apply at any age.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 21 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/527), regulation 10, latest revised text : 10(1)(a) nationality and indefinite leave; 10(1)(b) proof of good conduct for armed forces service; 10(3) definition of armed forces; transferee exceptions (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/154) : the national application form, sift, online assessment process and force interview became legal stages on 17 March 2026 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/653) : from 13 July 2026: vetting applied for after the four stages, clearance within six months before appointment; any conviction or caution makes a candidate not suitable unless particular circumstances justify clearance (accessed 21 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Police constable pre-employment guidance (April 2024) : HM Armed Forces (military tribunal convictions on the PNC); HM Armed Forces references (18-month resettlement, 12 months before discharge, discharge certificates, MoD conduct history); residency exceptions for armed forces service (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 002/2024, Annex BA (amendments): policing qualifications and experience : level 3 or training or work experience in or outside England and Wales the chief officer considers equivalent; special constable, PCSO and police staff service; armed forces not named (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Joining the Police (national recruitment site): Common questions : no specific national pathway for ex-military; some forces offer local pathways; armed forces service abroad classed as UK residence; apply at 17, appointed at 18; around 4 to 6 months to join (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Career Transition Partnership (updated 1 October 2024) : official resettlement service; Core Resettlement Programme (over 6 years), Employment Support Programme (4 to 6 years), Future Horizons (under 4 years), CTP Assist; up to 35 days' Graduated Resettlement Time; support up to 2 years before and after discharge (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Indefinite leave to remain (armed forces) : at least 4 years' service; apply up to 18 weeks before discharge and within 2 years after; no minimum after service-related medical discharge; fee £3,226 each, waived after 6 years' service or service-related medical discharge (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Immigration Act 1971, section 8 (legislation.gov.uk) : members of the home forces subject to service law are exempt from immigration control while serving (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Pensions and compensation for veterans (updated 12 October 2026) : AFPS members pay 0% contributions; deferred benefits can be transferred to other defined benefit schemes; resettlement grant may have to be repaid on re-employment (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Armed Forces Early Departure Payments Scheme Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2328), regulation 8 : EDP conditions: regular forces, leaving at 40 or over, at least 20 years' qualifying service (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Public Service Pensions Act 2013, section 10 : normal pension age of 60 for members of police forces and the armed forces in the 2015 schemes (accessed 21 October 2026)
- The Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/267) : police 2015 scheme member contributions of 12.88%, 13.88% and 14.22% from 1 April 2026 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GAD: Police Pension Scheme (England and Wales) valuation as at 31 March 2020 : employer contribution rate of 35.3% of pensionable pay from 1 April 2024 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Armed Forces' Pay Review Body Fifty-Fifth Report 2026 (via our police vs Army salary page) : Army base pay including X-Factor from 1 April 2026 (Appendix 1, Tables 1.1 and 1.4); accommodation subsidy data (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police news release, 12 October 2026 : the Met says new recruits get a starting salary of more than £43,000 (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (updated 14 October 2026) : Bronze, Silver and Gold criteria: signing the Covenant, no unfair disadvantage in recruitment, reservist leave, engaging with the CTP (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Armed Forces Covenant (armedforcescovenant.gov.uk) : the Covenant as a promise that those who serve or have served and their families are treated fairly (accessed 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Armed Forces Covenant duty statutory guidance : guidance on good practice in healthcare, education and housing (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Armed Forces Act 2006, section 375 (legislation.gov.uk) : service police forces: Royal Navy Police, Royal Military Police, Royal Air Force Police (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Ministry of Defence Police: About us : the force describes its specialist work protecting the nation's defence assets (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987, section 1 (legislation.gov.uk) : the Ministry of Defence Police is a police force of persons nominated by the Secretary of State (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Police Act 1996, section 101 (legislation.gov.uk) : 'police force' means a force maintained by a local policing body (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Lancashire Constabulary: Military to Civilian : one force's pathway: PCEP without level 3 if you left within 2 years after at least 2 years' service; Defence ERS Gold; armed forces staff network; reservist support (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Devon and Cornwall Police: Veteran recruitment : one force's page: 18 months' military service in place of the listed entry qualifications; CTP; reservist support (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Thames Valley Police: Police officer recruitment FAQ (dated September 2024) : one force's rule: at least one year of relevant professional experience, including the armed forces, assessed case by case; exceptions to residency for military postings (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Suffolk Constabulary: Entry routes and Armed Forces Covenant pages (read through search results) : 4 years' service (3 if before 1999) with an exemplary discharge reference as an alternative to level 3; guaranteed interview for eligible applicants meeting the essential criteria; Silver award. Page blocks automated access (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 59/2004: Medical standards for police recruitment : no automatic exclusion for a condition; each case assessed individually (accessed 21 October 2026)
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PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Recruitment standards, assessment formats and vetting decisions are set by the College of Policing and each force and change from time to time: check the force you are applying to before relying on anything here. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 21 October 2026.