Rejoining
The Police
Who counts as a rejoiner, why the five-year rule no longer applies, how your rank, probation, exams and pay point are decided, and the pension questions to settle before you accept. Written from the Police Regulations, the Home Office determinations and College of Policing guidance.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 1 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Yes, if you completed constable probation and then resigned or retired. Under regulation 10B of the Police Regulations 2003 there has been no five-year time limit since February 2019: the chief officer decides your rank (same, higher or lower), probation is 6 or 12 months, and you may need an exam and a work-based assessment. Check the pension position with your administrator first.
Who counts as a rejoiner
Regulation 10B of the Police Regulations 2003 applies to a person who is to be appointed to a police force and who has previously served in a police force (the same force or another), satisfactorily completed the probation required as a constable, and resigned or retired. It does not apply if, immediately before the appointment, the person was a serving officer, on secondment or on a career break, and it excludes transferees and the direct entry inspector and superintendent programmes.
| Your situation | Rejoiner under regulation 10B? | What usually applies instead |
|---|---|---|
| You completed constable probation, then resigned | Yes | Rejoiner route |
| You completed probation, served a full career and retired | Yes | Rejoiner route; check pension questions below |
| You left before completing constable probation | No: 10B requires completed probation as a constable | A new-entrant route (PCDA, PCEP, DHEP or degree holder) |
| You are serving in another force | No: transferees are excluded | Transfer between forces |
| You are on a career break | No: excluded by 10B(1)(d) | Return from career break under your force's terms |
| You are on secondment | No: excluded by 10B(1)(d) | End of secondment |
| You are joining the direct entry inspector or superintendent programme | No: excluded by 10B(1)(b) | That programme's own rules |
The College of Policing's rejoiner guidance uses the same definition and adds that rejoiners are subject to the same regulations and determinations as any other officer once appointed, including on part-time working, substance testing, restrictions on private life and dismissal.
Leaving to serve abroad and planning to come back later? Our guide to transferring to an Australian police force covers the UK side of that move, including your deferred pension and coming home as a rejoiner.
The five-year rule: what changed in 2019
Many older guides, and some forum answers, still say you must rejoin within five years. That was the old rule for keeping your rank. The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2018 substituted a new regulation 10B with effect from 22 February 2019. The College of Policing summarises the change: the requirement to rejoin within five years to keep your previous rank was removed, and chief officers gained the flexibility to appoint at a higher, lower or the same rank.
Five years still matters in two places, both about pensions rather than eligibility: the 2015 pension scheme's continuity rule (regulation 67) and its refund buy-back rule (regulation 177) both apply to gaps of five years or less. See the pension section below.
What rank you come back at
Regulation 10B(2)(a) says a rejoiner "must be appointed in a rank to be decided by the chief officer making the appointment". The College's minimum standards say you hold that rank from the point of re-entry, whether it is the same, higher or lower than when you left.
- Same rank. The most common arrangement. Probation is 6 or 12 months depending on how long you were away.
- Higher rank. Possible, but you must pass the exams for that rank (sergeant or inspector NPPF exam where you have no current pass) and complete its work-based assessment, on a 12-month probation. The College is explicit that resigning in order to come back at a higher rank carries no guarantee and does not bypass the promotion requirements.
- Lower rank. Also possible, for example a former sergeant returning as a constable, with a 12-month probation.
Rejoiner probation: 6 or 12 months
Regulation 10B(2)(b) leaves probation to a Home Office determination. The current text is Annex C, as reissued with Circular 009/2024.
| Rejoining | Full-time probation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 12 months after leaving, at the rank you last held | 6 months, or longer if the chief officer decides | Annex C paragraph 4C(b)(i) |
| 12 months or more after leaving, at the rank you last held | 12 months, or longer if the chief officer decides | Annex C paragraph 4C(b)(ii) |
| At a different rank (higher or lower) | 12 months, or longer if the chief officer decides | Annex C paragraph 4C(b)(iii) |
| Part-time | The full-time period scaled by 40 divided by your weekly hours | Annex C paragraph 3(aa) |
You only pass probation once you have completed every training and assessment component the force identified for you, within the probation period. If you do not reach the standard, the College guidance says the chief officer can extend probation or decide what happens next, and dismissal under regulation 13 is possible during probation, as for any probationer. Failing does not stop you applying to rejoin again later.
Exams, assessment and training
The College of Policing sets ten minimum standards that recruiting forces should comply with. The ones that affect you most are below.
| Requirement | When it applies | Study time and resits (College guidance) |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability assessed against the competency and values framework, with a rigorous interview | All rejoiners | Set by the recruiting force |
| Comprehensive evaluation of development needs against the role profile | All rejoiners, completed before attestation | Set by the recruiting force |
| Work-based assessment (WBA) for the rank or role | All rejoiners | Chief officer can extend probation if WBA is not finished |
| Sergeant or inspector exam (NPPF) | Rejoining at sergeant or inspector without a current pass | At least 6 months to study; one resit |
| National Investigators' Exam (NIE) | Rejoining into any detective role without a current pass | At least 14 weeks to study; one resit |
| PEQF degree or diploma | Not required of rejoiners at any rank | None |
If the NPPF exam or the NIE is needed, the guidance says you should have at least six months (exam) or 14 weeks (NIE) to study before sitting it, and one resit if you do not pass first time. After a second failure, it is for the chief officer to decide what happens. The College publishes NIE dates on its site; the last 2026 sitting is on 17 November.
Rejoiner selection includes an interview against the competency and values framework. The free mock interview and STAR answer checker help you rebuild evidence from your previous service.
Pay when you rejoin
Pay for officers is governed by regulation 24 of the Police Regulations 2003 and the pay determination under it. The College's rejoiner guidance says reckonable service for pay takes account of all service in that rank or a higher rank, so a rejoiner returning at the same or a lower rank "would not be expected to restart the pay scale" but re-enters at the pay point that matches previous service in that rank.
In practice ask for the pay point in writing with the offer, and check it against the current national scales. Any London or South East allowance depends on the force you rejoin, not the one you left.
The police salary calculator shows take-home pay for each rank and pay point in the force you are rejoining, and the 2026 pay scales list every point.
Pension: settle this before you accept
The College guidance is clear that pension treatment depends on which police pension scheme you were in, how long you were away and whether any of the gap was spent in public service, and recommends contacting your pension administrator (for example for the last force you served in). Most rejoiners will join the 2015 scheme.
Two rules in the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 are worth knowing before you call:
- Regulation 67. If you left with a 2015 scheme deferred pension and re-enter the scheme after a gap of five years or less, the deferred account is closed, the active account is re-established, and the gap is recorded as pensionable service with no pensionable earnings.
- Regulation 177. If you took a refund of contributions and rejoin after a gap of five years or less, you can repay the refund within six months of rejoining (or longer if the scheme manager allows) to have that earlier service restored.
Legacy 1987 and 2006 scheme service, McCloud remedy service between April 2015 and March 2022, and pensions already in payment all have their own rules. If you are already drawing a police pension, read our guide to pension abatement when you work again, which covers retire and rejoin. We have not summarised them here because the answer is individual. Ask the administrator for a written statement covering each period of service before you resign from any other job. Our pension calculator can model 2015 scheme accrual once you know your position.
How to rejoin, step by step
- Find a force recruiting rejoiners (see the list in the numbers section) and read its rejoiner pack.
- Check you meet regulation 10B: completed constable probation, and you resigned or retired.
- Get your pension position in writing from your administrator.
- Apply, declaring your previous service, the circumstances in which you left and anything since, honestly and in full. Vetting will check.
- Selection. The College's 2023 rejoiner standards call for assessment against the competency and values framework and a rigorous interview. Separately, since 17 March 2026 regulation 10(1)(eb) of the Police Regulations 2003 (inserted by SI 2026/154) requires every candidate for appointment as a constable, other than a transferee, to complete the national application form, the national sift, the online assessment process and an in-person force interview to the College's standard. The regulation does not exempt rejoiners, so if you are rejoining as a constable expect those stages, and ask the force how it applies them.
- Vetting, medical and fitness. Regulation 10 requires vetting clearance and medical certification for any appointment, and since 13 July 2026 it also bars anyone (other than a transferee) whose conduct attracts automatic disqualification, such as a conviction with a custodial sentence. Forces also set a job-related fitness test. The free vetting stage checker explains the stages.
- Development needs evaluation before attestation, setting your training, work-based assessment and any exam.
- Attestation and probation of 6 or 12 months.
For a sense of how long each stage takes, the free recruitment timeline planner lays out the stages from application to start date.
How many officers rejoin, and who is recruiting
The Home Office records rejoiners as a separate joiner type. In 2025/26, 272 full-time equivalent officers rejoined the 43 forces, out of 8,872 officer joiners (excluding transfers).
| Year | Rejoiners (FTE) | All officer joiners (FTE, excl. transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 134 | 12,789 |
| 2022/23 | 476 | 16,328 |
| 2023/24 | 393 | 9,479 |
| 2024/25 | 195 | 7,855 |
| 2025/26 | 272 | 8,872 |
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed 16 forces as recruiting through the rejoiner route: Avon and Somerset Police, Bedfordshire Police, Cumbria Constabulary, Devon and Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Essex Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Hampshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Norfolk Constabulary, Northumbria Police, Suffolk Constabulary, Surrey Police, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police, West Midlands Police. It is a dated reading, so check the live rejoiner list.
If you left under a cloud: barred and advisory lists
From 21 September 2026, section 205 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 says a law enforcement employer, which includes a police force, must check the barred lists before appointing anyone and may not employ or appoint a barred person. Section 209 adds a duty to check the advisory lists, which include people who resigned or retired while a conduct matter was outstanding. These replaced the equivalent provisions in sections 88C to 88E and 88K of the Police Act 1996.
If you left during an investigation or after a misconduct finding, take advice from a solicitor or your former staff association before applying, and declare it on the application. Being on the advisory list is not the same as being barred, but the force will see it.
What people get wrong about rejoining
- "You have to rejoin within five years." Not since 22 February 2019. Five years now matters only for some pension rules.
- "You automatically get your old rank back." The chief officer decides the rank.
- "Rejoiners start back at the bottom of the pay scale." Not at the same or a lower rank: previous service in the rank counts (regulation 24).
- "Rejoiners do a full two-year probation." It is 6 or 12 months under Annex C, unless extended.
- "You need the new police degree." The College says rejoiners are not currently required to gain the PEQF qualifications.
- "Rejoining is the same as transferring." Transferees are still serving; regulation 10B excludes them.
- "Resigning and rejoining is a shortcut to promotion." Rejoining at a higher rank still needs that rank's exam and assessment, with no guarantee of selection.
What to ask before you accept
| Ask | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Is the force recruiting rejoiners now, and at which ranks and roles? | Force recruitment team | Rejoiner windows are advertised separately |
| What rank would I be appointed at, and what probation applies? | Force recruitment team | The chief officer decides rank; Annex C sets probation |
| What pay point would I start on, and how is my previous service counted? | Force HR / payroll | Regulation 24 counts service in the rank |
| What training and work-based assessment will I need, and when will I know? | Force training team | The College says forces evaluate development needs before attestation |
| Do I need to sit the NPPF exam or the NIE, and when? | Force training team | Required if you have no current pass for the role |
| Which pension scheme will I join, and what happens to my previous benefits? | Your pension administrator (for your last force) | Depends on scheme, gap and any public service in between |
| If I took a refund, can I buy back that service? | Pension administrator | 2015 scheme regulation 177 sets a 6-month window for gaps up to 5 years |
| If I am drawing a police pension, does rejoining affect it? | Pension administrator | Abatement rules differ by scheme; see our abatement guide |
What we could not verify
- Pensions already in payment. Whether and how much a police pension in payment is reduced (abated) when a retired officer rejoins differs by scheme and force policy. Our abatement guide covers what the scheme guidance says; confirm your own figures with the administrator.
- Legacy scheme continuity. We read the 2015 scheme rules (regulations 67 and 177), not the 1987 and 2006 scheme equivalents.
- How each force sets rejoiner pay in practice. We read the regulation and the College guidance, not individual force policies.
- Fitness test timing for rejoiners. We found no rejoiner-specific national rule; forces set when you take it.
- How the 2026 national selection stages apply to rejoiners. Regulation 10(1)(eb) applies on its face to rejoiners appointed as constables, but we found no College of Policing rejoiner guidance updated since it came into force on 17 March 2026, and it does not cover rejoiners appointed above constable. Ask the force.
- Live recruitment. The forces list is a dated reading of the national site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rejoin the police after leaving?
Yes, if you completed your constable probation and then resigned or retired. Regulation 10B of the Police Regulations 2003 treats you as a rejoiner member. You apply to a force that is recruiting rejoiners, and the chief officer decides the rank you are appointed at. You go through vetting, a medical and selection; since March 2026 the national selection stages in regulation 10(1)(eb) apply to anyone appointed as a constable other than a transferee.
Is there a time limit for rejoining the police?
No longer. Changes to regulation 10B that took effect on 22 February 2019 (the Police (Amendment) Regulations 2018) removed the requirement to rejoin within five years to keep your rank. The time since you left now affects your probation length, any exams you need and your pension position, not whether you can apply.
Do I keep my old rank if I rejoin the police?
Not automatically. Under regulation 10B the chief officer making the appointment decides your rank, which can be the same, higher or lower than when you left. Rejoining at sergeant or inspector without a current exam pass means sitting the NPPF exam, and a higher rank brings that rank's work-based assessment.
How long is probation for a police rejoiner?
Six months if you rejoin less than 12 months after leaving, at the rank you last held. Twelve months if you rejoin 12 months or more after leaving, or at a different rank. The chief officer can extend it, and part-time rejoiners serve a longer pro rata period (Annex C paragraphs 3(aa) and 4C).
What pay point will I start on if I rejoin?
College of Policing guidance says a rejoiner returning at the same or a lower rank would not be expected to restart the pay scale, but re-enters at the pay point that reflects previous service in that rank, under regulation 24 of the Police Regulations 2003. Confirm the point in writing before you accept.
Do rejoiners have to do the police degree or apprenticeship?
No. The College of Policing says rejoiners at any rank are not currently required to gain the PEQF educational qualifications that new constables complete. You will still have training and a work-based assessment based on what has changed since you left.
What happens to my police pension if I rejoin?
It depends on your old scheme, how long you were away and whether you were in other public service. Most rejoiners join the 2015 scheme. If you had a 2015 scheme deferred pension and rejoin within 5 years, regulation 67 closes the deferred account and treats your service as continuous. Ask your pension administrator before accepting an offer.
Can I rejoin the police as a detective?
Yes. The College of Policing says a rejoiner who left as a uniformed officer can rejoin in a detective post. Without a current National Investigators' Exam pass you must sit the NIE at the earliest opportunity, with at least 14 weeks to study and one resit, and complete the detective work-based assessment.
Can I rejoin the police if I failed probation?
Not as a rejoiner. Regulation 10B requires that you satisfactorily completed constable probation in earlier service. If you left before that, you would normally apply as a new recruit through one of the current entry routes, and your earlier service and reasons for leaving would be looked at in vetting.
Which forces are recruiting rejoiners?
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed 16 forces recruiting rejoiners: Avon and Somerset Police, Bedfordshire Police, Cumbria Constabulary, Devon and Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Essex Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Hampshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Norfolk Constabulary, Northumbria Police, Suffolk Constabulary, Surrey Police, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police, West Midlands Police. Others open rejoiner windows at different times, so check the force's own site.
Is rejoining the same as transferring?
No. A transferee moves directly from one force to another while still serving. A rejoiner has left the police and comes back. Regulation 10B excludes transferees, secondees and officers returning from a career break.
Can I take a career break soon after rejoining?
College of Policing guidance says rejoiners must complete their rejoiner probation before applying for a career break under the Police Regulations.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 1 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, regulation 10B (latest version, legislation.gov.uk) — who is a rejoiner; rank decided by the chief officer; probation set by determination (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 009/2024: changes to Annex C (probation) — 6 and 12-month rejoiner probation; part-time calculation (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: rejoining the service — five-year rule removed; appointment at a higher, lower or the same rank (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: police rejoiners, guidance on changes to Police Regulations (updated 18 October 2023) — minimum standards, exams, study time, resits, pay point, pension, PEQF, career breaks (accessed 1 October 2026)
- The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/1191) — substituted regulation 10B from 22 February 2019 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 (latest version) — national selection stages for constables from 17 March 2026 (SI 2026/154); automatic disqualification and vetting from 13 July 2026 (SI 2026/653) (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 24 (pay) — reckonable service for pay purposes (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, regulation 67 — deferred account closed and service treated as continuous after a gap of 5 years or less (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, regulation 177 — repaying a refund within 6 months of rejoining after a gap of up to 5 years (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Crime and Policing Act 2026, sections 205 and 209 — from 21 September 2026: no employment of barred persons; duty to check barred and advisory lists (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office: Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2026, and joiners open data — rejoiner numbers by year (accessed 1 October 2026)
- joiningthepolice.co.uk: forces recruiting via the rejoiner route (read 1 October 2026) — which forces listed the rejoiner route as open (accessed 1 October 2026)
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Disclaimer
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 1 October 2026.