Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the single force covering Northern Ireland, operating under its own legal framework, separate from both the England and Wales and Scottish systems.
PSNI pay
PSNI officer pay is set by the Department of Justice after a recommendation from the Police Remuneration Review Body, broadly in line with England and Wales. Student officers appointed since 1 September 2025 start on £31,163 plus a £4,283 Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance. That is the 2025/26 scale: no 2026/27 PSNI award had been published when we checked on 21 October 2026.
Source: Join PSNI: Your pay scale, read 21 October 2026. Full detail: PSNI pay, campaign dates and process.
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The PSNI recruits student officers in campaigns that open and close on fixed dates. Leave your email and we will tell you when the next campaign opens, with its closing date. You can add up to two forces too. Occasional emails, written by hand. Unsubscribe any time.
What officers say about working at Police Service of Northern Ireland
Anonymous reviews from real officers and candidates — checked before publishing, never shared with the force.
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What candidates say about applying to Police Service of Northern Ireland
Anonymous reviews from real officers and candidates — checked before publishing, never shared with the force.
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PSNI questions
How much does a PSNI officer earn? +
PSNI officer pay is set by the Department of Justice after a recommendation from the Police Remuneration Review Body, broadly in line with England and Wales. Student officers appointed since 1 September 2025 start on £31,163 plus a £4,283 Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance. That is the 2025/26 scale: no 2026/27 PSNI award had been published when we checked on 21 October 2026. Source: Join PSNI: Your pay scale, read 21 October 2026.
Are PSNI reviews on PolicePay anonymous? +
Yes. Every review is checked before it is published and never shared with Police Service of Northern Ireland. Reviewers are identified only by role and, for recruitment reviews, whether they joined, were rejected or withdrew.
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