Joining The
States of Jersey Police
The States of Jersey Police pays new officers far more than forces in England and Wales, which is why it turns up in pay searches. But it recruits trainee officers only from people who have lived in Jersey for at least five years and its 2026 campaign is closed. This guide sets out exactly who can apply, how selection works, what the pay scale says and what to do if you do not qualify, using only the force's own pages and the Government of Jersey's pay scales, read on 23 October 2026.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 23 October 2026 · Jersey unless stated
Only if you have lived in Jersey for at least five years. The careers page sets that rule and the recruitment pack asks for Entitled to Work or Entitled status. If you qualify, you apply as a Trainee Police Officer through the Government of Jersey platform while a campaign is open, then sit the written PIR exam, a shuttle run to level 5.4, a 50 metre swim and an extended assessment day before references, a medical and vetting. Pay starts at £49,629.87 in 2026. The 2026 campaign is closed and no new date has been published.
The States of Jersey Police careers page says applicants must have lived in Jersey for at least five years. If you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and have never lived in Jersey, you cannot apply as a trainee officer, however good the pay looks. The rest of this page is written so you can check that quickly and, if it rules you out, find a route that does fit.
Most of PolicePay covers the 43 forces in England and Wales. Jersey is a Crown Dependency with its own government, its own residence rules, its own police pay scale and its own recruitment process, so almost none of our England and Wales recruitment guidance applies here. This guide uses only the States of Jersey Police careers page, its 2026 Police Officer Recruitment Pack, the Government of Jersey careers site and the Government of Jersey police pay scales, all read on 23 October 2026. Where Jersey does not publish something, we say so.
States of Jersey Police recruitment at a glance
Everything a first-time reader usually wants to know, in one table. Each line comes from the source named in the last column.
| Question | What Jersey says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry route on the careers page | Trainee Police Officer (Police Constable) only | States of Jersey Police careers page |
| 2026 campaign | Closed: "The States of Jersey Police recruitment for Trainee Police Officers for 2026 is now closed" | Careers page |
| Next campaign | No date published | Careers page |
| Residence | Lived in Jersey for at least five years | Careers page |
| Status in the recruitment pack | "Entitled to Work / Entitled status" | Recruitment Pack, section 1.5 |
| Minimum age | Over 18.5 (the pack says on the date of appointment) | Careers page and Recruitment Pack |
| Academic qualifications | None required; written skills are assessed | Careers page and Recruitment Pack |
| Driving | Full manual Jersey driving licence | Recruitment Pack |
| Fitness | 15 m shuttle run to level 5.4; swim 50 metres unaided | Careers page |
| Training | 20 weeks on-island, then a two-year probation | Careers page |
| Pay on appointment (2026) | £49,629.87 a year, 40-hour week | Government of Jersey police pay scales |
| Size | "Around 200 police officers" | Recruitment Pack, page 5 |
The two lines that decide whether this page is relevant to you are the residence rule and the campaign status. The first rules out almost every reader who lives in Great Britain. The second means that even people who do qualify have to wait for the next campaign.
Who can apply: the five-year Jersey residence rule
The States of Jersey Police careers page lists the basic eligibility rules for Trainee Police Officers. The one that matters most for anyone reading from Great Britain is residence. In the careers page's words, applicants must have "lived in Jersey for at least five years".
The 2026 Police Officer Recruitment Pack puts the same idea in terms of Jersey's residential status system. Section 1.5 lists "Entitled to Work / Entitled status" as a requirement. These are statuses set by the Government of Jersey, not by the police. The Government of Jersey explains them on its residential and employment status page, which is the place to check how your own history counts.
What this means in practice:
- You live in Jersey and have done for five years or more. You meet the residence rule on the face of the careers page. You still need to meet every other requirement and wait for a campaign to open.
- You grew up in Jersey but have lived away. The careers page says people who have lived abroad should contact the recruitment team early. Do that before you plan around a campaign, because a break in residence may matter. The recruitment team's address is recruitment@jersey.police.je.
- You live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and have never lived in Jersey. You do not meet the rule. Moving to Jersey would not help in the short term, because the rule is five years of living there. Look at the options in if you do not qualify below.
- You have lived in Jersey for less than five years. The careers page rule is not met yet. Contact the recruitment team if you are unsure how your dates count.
Jersey's starting pay is far above England and Wales, so pay comparison pages often list it without mentioning who can apply. That sends people to a careers page they cannot use. We would rather tell you in the first screen that a UK reader with no Jersey history is ruled out, than let you read a full recruitment guide first.
For how residence rules work for forces in England and Wales, which are very different, see our guide to police nationality and residency requirements.
The other entry requirements
If you meet the residence rule, these are the other requirements Jersey publishes. The careers page and the recruitment pack list them slightly differently, so both are shown.
| Requirement | Careers page | Recruitment Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Over 18.5 years old | More than 18.5 on the date of appointment |
| Residence or status | Lived in Jersey for at least five years | Entitled to Work / Entitled status |
| Qualifications | No academic qualifications, but written skills are assessed | No academic qualification requirement |
| English | Not listed separately | Good written and spoken English |
| Character and record | Cautions and convictions assessed case by case | Good character |
| Health and fitness | Fitness and swim tests (see below) | Good health, fitness and eyesight |
| Driving | Not listed | Full manual Jersey driving licence |
| Working pattern | Able to work 24-hour rotating shifts | Not listed separately |
- No degree and no GCSEs required. Jersey does not ask for academic qualifications. Instead your writing is tested in the PIR exam.
- Convictions and cautions are not an automatic bar. The careers page says they are assessed case by case. Jersey does not publish a list of offences that rule you out, so declare everything and ask the recruitment team if you are unsure.
- A manual Jersey licence. The pack asks for a full manual Jersey driving licence. It does not say when you must hold it. Ask the recruitment team if you hold a licence issued elsewhere.
- Shift work. The careers page says you must be able to work 24-hour rotating shifts.
- No upper age limit is published. Neither page gives a maximum age. We do not say there is none, only that Jersey does not publish one.
For comparison only, our police age limit guide covers the rules in England and Wales. Jersey's own pages are the authority for Jersey.
How States of Jersey Police recruitment works
The careers page lists one route only: Trainee Police Officer (Police Constable) recruitment. There is no separate degree route, detective entry route or published transferee scheme on that page.
Recruitment runs as campaigns. When a campaign is open, applications go through the Government of Jersey recruitment platform, not a police-run site. The Government of Jersey careers site has a Police Service area where police vacancies appear. On 23 October 2026 it said: "There are currently no open positions matching this department / service area."
The same page invites people to contact recruitment@jersey.police.je for an informal discussion. That is the most direct way to ask anything this guide cannot answer, such as how a period of living away from Jersey is treated or when the next campaign might open.
The force is small. The 2026 recruitment pack says the States of Jersey Police has "around 200 police officers". A force that size takes in far fewer trainees than a large force in Great Britain, which is one more reason to prepare well before a campaign opens rather than after.
The 2026 campaign: closed
The careers page said on 23 October 2026: "The States of Jersey Police recruitment for Trainee Police Officers for 2026 is now closed." It gave no date for the next campaign and the Government of Jersey careers site showed no open Police Service positions.
We do not know when the 2026 campaign opened or closed, how many people applied or how many places it filled. Jersey does not publish those figures on the pages we read. We also do not know whether the next campaign will run in 2027 or on a set cycle, so we do not guess.
No 2027 campaign date was published on the careers page or the Government of Jersey careers site when we checked. If you see a date elsewhere, check it against those two pages before you rely on it.
How to watch for the next campaign
There is no published alert service on the pages we read, so watching for the next campaign means checking yourself:
- Check the careers page. The States of Jersey Police careers page is where the 2026 closed notice appeared, so it is where an opening notice is most likely to appear too.
- Check the Government of Jersey careers site. The Police Service area of careers.gov.je is where applications are made. A live campaign would show there as an open position.
- Email the recruitment team. recruitment@jersey.police.je is offered for informal discussions. A short email asking whether a campaign is planned and how your residence history counts costs nothing.
- Use the gap. The tests are known (see below), so the months before a campaign are the time to get to level 5.4 on the shuttle run, to swim 50 metres comfortably and to practise writing a clear account of something you have seen.
The selection stages in order
The 2026 recruitment pack (pages 11 and 12) sets out the stages. The fitness standard, swim distance and training length come from the careers page. In the order the pack gives them:
| Step | Stage | What Jersey says |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online application | Through the Government of Jersey recruitment platform, only while a campaign is open |
| 2 | Initial vetting | An early check before the tests |
| 3 | Police Initial Recruitment (PIR) exam | Written part only in Jersey: an essay where you observe a situation and write about it. Jersey no longer uses the numeracy part |
| 4 | Physical fitness test | Job-Related Fitness Test: 15 m shuttle run to level 5.4 |
| 5 | Swim test | Swim 50 metres unaided |
| 6 | Extended assessment day | Interviews, role-play scenarios and teamwork exercises |
| 7 | Referencing, medical and vetting | Vetting includes checks on the applicant and family members |
| 8 | Training | 20-week programme delivered on-island, then two years' probation |
Notice what is not there. The published stages do not include the College of Policing's National Sift or online assessment centre used by forces in England and Wales. If you have prepared for those, some of the skills carry over (clear writing, calm conversation, teamwork) but the formats do not.
The Police Initial Recruitment (PIR) written exam
The recruitment pack says Jersey uses the Police Initial Recruitment (PIR) exam, but no longer uses its numeracy part. What remains is a written exercise: an essay in which you observe a situation and write about it.
Because Jersey has no academic entry requirement, this exam is where your written skills are tested. The careers page makes the same point: no academic qualifications are needed, but written skills are assessed.
What the pack does not tell us:
- how long you have to write;
- whether you watch a video, a live scene or read a description;
- how the essay is marked or what the pass mark is.
Practising for it is still straightforward. Watch something happen (a short clip, a street scene from a café), then write a plain, ordered account: what you saw, in time order, who was involved, what they looked like and what was said, separating what you saw from what you assumed. Check spelling, grammar and punctuation. Keep sentences short.
Our police written exercise examples were built for the England and Wales online assessment centre, not for Jersey's exam, but they are useful practice in writing clearly under time pressure.
The fitness and swim tests
The careers page gives two physical standards:
- Job-Related Fitness Test: level 5.4 on the 15 metre shuttle run, often called the bleep test.
- Swim test: swim 50 metres unaided. It is easy to train hard for the shuttle run and forget this one.
The pack lists the physical fitness test and the swim test as separate stages before the extended assessment day. Jersey does not publish how many attempts you get at either. If swimming is not something you do often, get to a pool well before a campaign and practise swimming 50 metres without stopping or holding on.
Our fitness test by force guide explains the shuttle run and how forces use it.
The extended assessment day
The recruitment pack describes an extended assessment day made up of interviews, role-play scenarios and teamwork exercises. That is all the detail it publishes.
Jersey does not say which framework the assessors mark against, how many interviews there are, how long the day lasts or what the scenarios involve. We have not seen the exercises and do not describe them. What we can say is what the three parts usually reward in police selection anywhere:
- Interviews: clear, honest answers about why you want the job and specific examples from your own life.
- Role plays: listening first, staying calm, treating the person with respect and saying what happens next.
- Teamwork exercises: contributing without dominating, bringing quieter people in and keeping the group on task.
Because Jersey is a small island force, it is reasonable to expect questions about why you want to police your own community. That is our suggestion, not something the pack states.
References, medical and vetting
After the assessment day, the recruitment pack lists referencing, a medical and vetting. It says vetting includes checks on the applicant and on family members. There is also an initial vetting check near the start of the process.
- Be complete. Declare every caution and conviction. The careers page says these are assessed case by case, which only works if the force has the full picture.
- Family checks. Expect to give details of family members. Have names, dates of birth and addresses ready.
- Health and eyesight. The pack asks for good health, fitness and eyesight. It does not publish an eyesight standard, so if you have a condition, ask early.
Jersey does not publish its vetting standards or timescales. For background on how police vetting works in England and Wales, see our vetting levels guide. Jersey's process is its own.
Training and probation
The careers page says initial training is a 20-week programme delivered on-island, followed by a two-year probation. You train in Jersey rather than at a training centre in Great Britain.
Jersey does not publish the course content, whether training leads to a qualification or how the probation is assessed on the pages we read.
States of Jersey Police pay scale 2026
The Government of Jersey publishes the States of Jersey Police Service Pay scale. It is based on a 40-hour week. The 2026 award was 3.8% from 1 January 2026. The constable points as published:
| Constable point | 2025 annual | 2026 annual (from 1 January 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| On appointment | £47,812.98 | £49,629.87 |
| PFC (9 months) | £50,353.49 | No 2026 figure shown |
| After 1 year | £53,602.43 | No 2026 figure shown |
| After 2 years | £64,082.81 | £66,517.95 |
| After 3 years | £67,053.68 | £69,601.72 |
| After 4 years | £70,174.28 | £72,840.90 |
| After 8 years | £73,415.67 | £76,205.47 |
| After 12 years | £76,825.65 | £79,745.02 |
A sergeant on promotion is on £86,896.02 in 2026.
The 2026 column has no figure for the "PFC (9 months)" point or the "after 1 year" point, although both have 2025 figures. The PDF does not explain why. We do not assume those points were removed; we only report that no 2026 figure is shown. If you are offered a post, ask what you will be paid at nine months and at one year.
The scale climbs steeply. On the 2026 figures, a constable goes from £49,629.87 on appointment to £66,517.95 after two years and £79,745.02 after twelve years.
Do not use PolicePay's salary or take-home calculators for Jersey. They use the England and Wales pay scale and UK tax rules. Jersey has its own pay scale and its own tax system, which we have not modelled.
How Jersey's pay compares with other island and UK forces
Jersey's starting pay is far above England and Wales. The table puts it next to Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Police Scotland, each from its own published source.
| Force | Starting point | Top of the published constable scale | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| States of Jersey Police | £49,629.87 on appointment (2026, 40-hour week) | £79,745.02 after 12 years | Government of Jersey pay scales PDF |
| Guernsey Police | Constable scale 002 to 011: £42,331 to £59,282, plus a £1,683 a year allowance the listing calls a Hampshire allowance | £59,282 (top of the constable band) | gov.gg/policejobs |
| Isle of Man Constabulary | £35,106 starting salary | £50,256 after three years | IOMC Recruitment Guide, page 10 |
| Police Scotland | £34,001 on appointment (as of April 2026) | £54,597 after 11 years of increments | Police Scotland rewards and benefits page |
Three cautions before you read too much into this:
- Hours differ. Jersey quotes a 40-hour week. Check the hours behind any other figure you compare it with.
- Costs differ. We have not checked housing costs or tax in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, so this table compares gross pay only. It says nothing about what you would have left.
- Eligibility differs. A higher salary you cannot apply for is not an option. The residence rule matters more than the pay.
For England and Wales, see our police pay scales 2026 guide and the starting pay by force tool. Our highest paying police force guide covers the forces in the UK itself.
Serving officers: is there a transfer route?
The States of Jersey Police careers page does not describe a transferee route. The only route it lists is Trainee Police Officer recruitment. We did not find a transferee scheme, transferee pay placement or transferee application form on the pages we read.
That does not prove experienced officers are never recruited. It means Jersey does not publish a route on its careers page. If you are a serving officer, the honest advice is:
- Email recruitment@jersey.police.je and ask whether experienced officers are recruited and on what terms.
- Ask how the residence rule applies to experienced officers. The careers page states it for trainee officers.
- Do not resign or plan a move on the strength of a news story or a forum post.
If you want an island force with a published transfer route, the Isle of Man Constabulary was recruiting transferee constables on 23 October 2026, with UK drop-in events on 30 November, 1 December and 4 December 2026. Guernsey Police says its transferee roles are currently limited to Sergeant and Inspector. For transfers between forces in Great Britain, see forces recruiting transferees.
Jersey vs Guernsey vs the Isle of Man
The three island forces are often lumped together, but their rules are different. This table uses only what each force or government publishes, read on 23 October 2026.
| States of Jersey Police | Guernsey Police | Isle of Man Constabulary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply as a new constable | People who have lived in Jersey for at least five years and hold "Entitled to Work / Entitled status" | Holders of a valid Guernsey Right to Work Document | People who are Manx or qualify for an Isle of Man work permit |
| New recruit campaign on 23 Oct 2026 | 2026 campaign closed; no new date | Constable job record closed | Closed 21 August 2026; recruits start training 11 January 2027 |
| Transferee route | Not described on the careers page | Open to Sergeant and Inspector roles only, with a relocation package | Open now for constables; UK drop-ins on 30 Nov, 1 Dec and 4 Dec 2026 |
| Constable pay | £49,629.87 on appointment (2026) to £79,745.02 after 12 years | £42,331 to £59,282, plus £1,683 a year | £35,106 starting to £50,256 after three years |
| Minimum age | Over 18.5 | Not published on the pages we read | At least 18 and a half by the closing date; no upper limit |
| Fitness | Shuttle run to level 5.4; swim 50 m unaided | Physical fitness assessment (standard not given on the listing) | Shuttle run to level 5.4; swim 50 m confidently |
| Initial training | 20 weeks on-island | Not published on the pages we read | 16 weeks |
| Probation | Two years | Not published on the pages we read | Two years |
The pattern is the same on all three islands: you need a local status or permit to join as a new constable. The difference is in the doors left open to people from elsewhere. The Isle of Man runs an open transferee route for constables. Guernsey offers Sergeant and Inspector roles to off-island applicants with a relocation package and Employment Permit. Jersey's careers page describes neither.
Read the full guides: Guernsey Police recruitment and Isle of Man Constabulary recruitment.
If you do not qualify: better routes for UK readers
If the five-year rule rules you out, these are routes you can actually apply to, depending on what drew you to Jersey:
- You want an island force. The Isle of Man takes transferee constables and runs UK drop-ins. New recruits there need Manx status or an Isle of Man work permit, so check that first.
- You are a sergeant or inspector. Guernsey currently recruits off-island transferees at those ranks only, with a relocation package.
- You want the highest pay you can apply for. Compare forces in Great Britain with our starting pay by force tool and our police starting salary 2026 guide.
- You want a force that recruits differently. Our which police force fits me guide and the other forces hub cover British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, MOD Police, the PSNI and more.
- You want Scotland. Police Scotland runs its own process; see our Police Scotland recruitment guides.
How to prepare if you do qualify
This is PolicePay's general advice, built on what Jersey publishes. It is not endorsed by the States of Jersey Police and it cannot predict a result.
- Confirm your eligibility now. If your residence history has any gaps, email recruitment@jersey.police.je before the next campaign, as the careers page suggests for people who have lived abroad.
- Sort out your licence. The pack asks for a full manual Jersey driving licence. If you do not have one, find out what you need and when.
- Train for level 5.4 and beyond. Aim to pass comfortably, not on the last shuttle.
- Swim. Get to a pool and swim 50 metres unaided, several times, until it feels easy.
- Practise observational writing. The PIR essay asks you to observe a situation and write about it. Practise writing a short, accurate, time-ordered account and check your spelling and grammar.
- Prepare real examples. For the interviews, think of times you dealt with conflict, helped someone, worked in a team, made a mistake and put it right or stood up for what was right.
- Practise talking to people under pressure. Role plays reward listening and calm. Rehearse with a friend playing an upset member of the public.
- Be ready to declare everything. Gather details of any cautions, convictions and family members now, because vetting covers both you and your family.
- Think about shifts. The careers page says you must be able to work 24-hour rotating shifts. Plan how that fits your life.
Free practice that may help, built for England and Wales rather than Jersey: our mock interview for speaking practice and our written exercise examples for clear writing.
A preparation plan while the campaign is closed
With no date published, you cannot count back from a closing date. A simple plan is to get ready in three blocks, so you are prepared whenever the next campaign opens. This is our suggestion, not a Jersey timetable.
| Block | Focus | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| First month | Eligibility and paperwork: residence history, status, driving licence, a list of anything to declare | You have emailed the recruitment team with any questions and know you meet the residence rule |
| Months two and three | Fitness and swimming: shuttle run training and regular pool sessions | You pass level 5.4 with something to spare and swim 50 metres unaided without effort |
| Month four onwards | Writing and speaking: observational essays, interview examples and role-play practice with a friend | You can write a clear account of a scene and talk through six real examples from your life |
| Every month | Check the careers page and careers.gov.je | A campaign opens and you apply early |
Keep your fitness and swimming going once you reach the standard. A campaign can open at short notice and it is easier to hold a level than to rebuild it.
Questions worth asking the recruitment team
The Government of Jersey careers site offers recruitment@jersey.police.je for an informal discussion. These are the gaps in the published material that are most worth asking about, so you get a clear answer before you apply:
- I have lived in Jersey for a set period, with a break while I was away. Do I meet the five-year rule?
- Which residential status do I need on the date I apply and on the date I am appointed?
- When do I need to hold a full manual Jersey driving licence?
- Is a campaign planned for 2027? Is there a way to be told when it opens?
- How many attempts are allowed at the fitness test and the swim test?
- Are experienced officers from other forces ever recruited? If so, how?
- What are the eyesight and medical standards?
- What will I be paid at nine months and at one year on the 2026 scale?
Keep the email short and specific. Put your question in the first line. If the answer affects whether you apply, save the reply.
Checklist before the next Jersey campaign
| Check | Jersey rule | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| Residence | Lived in Jersey for at least five years | If you have lived away, email the recruitment team early |
| Status | Entitled to Work / Entitled status | Check your status on gov.je |
| Age | Over 18.5 (on the date of appointment, per the pack) | Check your age against a likely start date |
| Driving | Full manual Jersey driving licence | Find out what you need and by when |
| Shuttle run | Level 5.4 on the 15 m shuttle run | Train to pass comfortably |
| Swim | 50 metres unaided | Practise in a pool |
| Writing | Assessed through the PIR written essay | Practise observational writing |
| Record | Cautions and convictions assessed case by case | Gather details to declare in full |
| Family details | Vetting covers family members | Have names, dates of birth and addresses ready |
| Shifts | Able to work 24-hour rotating shifts | Plan for it |
| Campaign | 2026 closed; no new date | Check the careers page and careers.gov.je |
Common mistakes
- Reading the pay before the rules. The starting pay is high, but the five-year residence rule decides whether you can apply at all.
- Assuming a transfer route exists. The careers page lists trainee officer recruitment only. Ask before you plan.
- Moving to Jersey to apply next year. The rule is five years of living in Jersey. A recent move does not meet it.
- Forgetting the swim. Many applicants train for the shuttle run and nothing else.
- Preparing for the National Sift. Jersey's published stages do not include it. The written test is an observational essay.
- Using UK calculators. Jersey has its own pay scale and its own tax system.
- Trusting an unofficial date. Check any campaign date against the careers page and careers.gov.je.
What we could not verify
- The exact meaning of the residential statuses. The recruitment pack asks for "Entitled to Work / Entitled status". We could not read the Government of Jersey's residential status page in full, so we do not state how many years each status needs or how breaks in residence are treated. The careers page's own rule (lived in Jersey for at least five years) is the one we rely on. Check gov.je for your own case.
- A transferee route. None is described on the careers page. We have seen a local news report about UK officers joining, but it is not an official source, so we do not rely on it.
- The blank 2026 pay points. Why the 2026 column has no figure for the "PFC (9 months)" and "after 1 year" points is not explained.
- What "PFC" stands for. The pay scale uses the label without explaining it, so we show it as published.
- Next campaign timing. No date is published.
- Campaign numbers. Applicant numbers, places and pass rates are not published on the pages we read.
- The PIR exam format. Timing, the way the situation is shown and the marking are not published.
- The assessment day. The framework, the number of interviews and the scenarios are not published.
- Eyesight and medical standards. Not published on the pages we read.
- Upper age limit. Not published on the pages we read.
- Tax and living costs. We have not checked them, so we make no claim about take-home pay.
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed below on 23 October 2026. Jersey can change its rules, pay and campaign timing at any time. If something here no longer matches the careers page, the careers page is right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join the States of Jersey Police if I live in England?
Almost certainly not as a new trainee officer. The careers page says you must have lived in Jersey for at least five years and the recruitment pack asks for Entitled to Work or Entitled status. Someone who has never lived in Jersey does not meet that. The careers page asks people who have lived abroad to contact the recruitment team early, so if you lived in Jersey before and moved away, email recruitment@jersey.police.je to ask how your history counts.
Is States of Jersey Police recruitment open?
No. When we checked on 23 October 2026 the careers page said the Trainee Police Officer recruitment for 2026 is closed and the Government of Jersey careers site showed no open Police Service positions. No date for the next campaign was published.
How much does a States of Jersey Police officer earn?
The Government of Jersey police pay scales show a constable on appointment at £49,629.87 a year from 1 January 2026, after a 3.8% award, for a 40-hour week. The scale rises to £66,517.95 after two years, £69,601.72 after three years, £72,840.90 after four years, £76,205.47 after eight years and £79,745.02 after twelve years. A sergeant on promotion is on £86,896.02.
What qualifications do I need to join the Jersey police?
None. Both the careers page and the recruitment pack say there is no academic qualification requirement. Your written skills are assessed instead, through the written part of the Police Initial Recruitment exam. You also need good written and spoken English.
What is the minimum age for the States of Jersey Police?
You must be over 18.5. The recruitment pack says more than 18.5 on the date of appointment. Neither page we read gives an upper age limit.
What tests does the States of Jersey Police use?
The recruitment pack lists an online application, initial vetting, the Police Initial Recruitment exam (written part only: an essay where you observe a situation and write about it), a physical fitness test, a swim test, an extended assessment day with interviews, role-play scenarios and teamwork exercises, then referencing, medical and vetting.
What is the Jersey police fitness test?
The careers page gives the Job-Related Fitness Test to level 5.4 on the 15 metre shuttle run. Jersey also requires you to swim 50 metres unaided.
Do I need a Jersey driving licence?
The recruitment pack lists a full manual Jersey driving licence as a requirement. We did not find detail on when you need to hold it or how a UK licence is treated, so ask the recruitment team.
How long is training in the States of Jersey Police?
The careers page says training is a 20-week programme delivered on-island, followed by a two-year probation.
Can a serving UK police officer transfer to the States of Jersey Police?
The careers page does not describe a transferee route. The only route it lists is Trainee Police Officer recruitment. If you are a serving officer with a Jersey connection, email recruitment@jersey.police.je and ask directly.
Can I join the States of Jersey Police with a caution or conviction?
Possibly. The careers page says cautions and convictions are assessed case by case and the recruitment pack asks for good character. Jersey does not publish a list of offences that rule you out. Declare everything in full and ask the recruitment team if you are unsure before you apply.
How big is the States of Jersey Police?
The 2026 Police Officer Recruitment Pack says it has around 200 police officers.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 23 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.
- States of Jersey Police: Careers : 2026 Trainee Police Officer campaign closed; no new campaign date; over 18.5; lived in Jersey for at least five years and the advice for people who have lived abroad; no academic qualifications but written skills assessed; 24-hour rotating shifts; cautions and convictions assessed case by case; shuttle run to level 5.4; swim 50 metres unaided; 20 weeks on-island training; two-year probation (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Government of Jersey careers: Police Service : no open positions in the Police Service area; recruitment@jersey.police.je for an informal discussion (accessed 23 October 2026)
- States of Jersey Police: Police Officer Recruitment Pack (PDF, created 16 April 2026) : around 200 police officers (page 5); entry requirements in section 1.5 (page 7); the stages, the PIR exam and the extended assessment day (pages 11 and 12) (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Government of Jersey: States of Jersey Police Service Pay (PDF) : constable pay points for 2025 and 2026; 3.8% award from 1 January 2026; 40-hour week; sergeant on promotion (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Government of Jersey: Residential and employment status : where Jersey explains residential and employment statuses (we could not read it in full; see what we could not verify) (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Isle of Man Constabulary: Careers and transferee pages : routes, the closed new recruit campaign, the transferee route and UK drop-in dates (comparison table) (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Isle of Man Constabulary: Recruitment Guide (PDF) and Application Guidance (PDF) : starting salary £35,106 and top pay £50,256 after three years; Manx or work permit rule; age; fitness and swim (comparison table) (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Guernsey: gov.gg police jobs and the Guernsey Police transferee page : constable, sergeant and inspector pay bands; Guernsey Right to Work Document; transferee roles limited to Sergeant and Inspector (comparison table) (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Rewards and benefits : £34,001 on appointment and £54,597 after 11 years, as of April 2026 (pay comparison) (accessed 23 October 2026)
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PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence Police, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the National Crime Agency, the Isle of Man Constabulary, the States of Jersey Police, Guernsey Police, any port police force, Deloitte, the College of Policing or any other force and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Each force sets and changes its own recruitment process, sometimes between campaigns: check the force's own recruitment pages and your invitation before relying on anything here. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not questions used by any force. Details are as checked on 23 October 2026.