Leaving
The Police
Resigning, retiring, going on ill-health grounds, transferring, taking a career break or being dismissed are different routes with different rules. Here is what each one means for your pension, pay, notice and any return, what to sort out before you hand in your notice, and where to read the detail.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 30 September 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
It depends on the route. Resigning keeps the pension you have built (in the 2015 scheme you need 2 years' qualifying service to become a deferred member) but stops pay and cover tied to service. Retiring or ill-health retirement starts a pension. Transfers and career breaks keep you in the service. Dismissal puts you on the barred list. Get a pension statement and talk to your Federation rep before giving notice.
The routes out of policing
People say "leaving the police" to mean several quite different things. The rules, the pension outcome and your options for coming back depend on which route you take, so start by being precise about which one you are looking at.
There is also a discretionary voluntary exit payment, the compensation lump sum on voluntary retirement under Annex DA to the Police Regulations 2003. The Home Office text says it is paid at the discretion of the police pension authority, needs at least 2 years' service, and is not available to officers with pending misconduct allegations or performance issues. It was amended from 1 July 2026. Forces decide whether to offer it at all, so ask HR whether a scheme is open before you plan around it.
What each route means: pension, pay and notice, and coming back
This table is a map, not the detail. Each row links to the page that explains the rules for that route. Pension outcomes depend on your scheme (1987, 2006 or 2015) and on any McCloud remedy choices, so treat the pension column as a starting point and get a statement from your administrator.
| Route | Pension | Pay and notice | Coming back later |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resign (voluntary resignation) | Your service to date stays in the scheme. In the 2015 scheme you become a deferred member if you have at least 2 years' qualifying service (reg 43(2), SI 2015/445), and a 2015 deferred pension is paid from your deferred pension age, which the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 sets at state pension age or 65 if higher. Resigning guide. | Pay stops on your leaving date. Written notice to the force; the rules come from a Home Secretary determination under reg 14 of the Police Regulations 2003. See the resigning guide. | Possible. Reg 10B of the Police Regulations 2003 lets a former officer who completed constable probation re-join, at a rank the chief officer decides. Full re-vetting applies. |
| Retire at or after pension age | Your pension is paid from retirement. The 2015 scheme's normal pension age is 60 (PSPA 2013, s10). Older schemes and McCloud choices change the answer. Pension hub. | Pay is replaced by pension. Notice as for any retirement under the reg 14 determination. | Possible under reg 10B, with full re-vetting. Ask the pension administrator how re-joining affects a pension in payment. |
| Ill-health retirement | Decided by the police pension authority on a selected medical practitioner's (SMP) opinion. The 2015 scheme has a lower tier and an enhanced upper tier (unfit for any regular employment). Ill-health guide. | A medical process, not a notice you hand in. Pay while off sick follows the sick pay rules: see long-term sickness. | An upper tier pension can be reviewed and ends if you are no longer unfit for regular employment (reg 114). |
| Transfer to another force | You stay a police officer, so this is not leaving the service. Pension membership continues. | Pay is set by the new force within national scales. Transfers hub. | Not relevant: service is continuous. The Vetting Code of Practice says transferees are fully re-vetted. |
| Career break | Unpaid. Career break time is excluded from 2015 scheme qualifying service (reg 88). | Up to five years, longer only in exceptional circumstances (Annex OO). You remain a member of the force. | You return to the force rather than re-join. Check what your force requires before you come back. |
| Dismissal | Separate rules on pension forfeiture apply. Pension after dismissal. | Employment ends on the decision date. No notice period. | A dismissed officer goes on the police barred list. From 21 September 2026 a law enforcement employer may not employ or appoint a barred person (Crime and Policing Act 2026, s205). |
The 2015 scheme figures come from the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 and the Public Service Pensions Act 2013. If you have service in the 1987 or 2006 scheme, or are affected by the McCloud remedy, other rules also apply to part of your service. The resigning guide covers each scheme, and the leaving cost calculator shows what the pension you would stop building could be worth.
How many officers leave, and who they are
The Home Office publishes officer leavers each year in "Police workforce, England and Wales". The latest edition covers the year to 31 March 2026 and was published on 22 July 2026. It counts leavers from the 43 territorial forces, excluding transfers between forces.
| Measure | Year to March 2026 | Year to March 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Officers who left (FTE, excluding transfers) | 9,240 | 8,795 |
| Leaver rate | 6.3% | 6.0% |
| Voluntary resignation as a share of leavers | 51.4% | 53.1% |
| Voluntary resignation rate | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Resigners with under 5 years' service | 60.6% | 67% |
| Resigners with 5 to under 10 years' service | 17.2% | 14% |
Over the same year 8,872 FTE officers joined, excluding transfers, so leavers outnumbered joiners. In headcount terms, 9,426 officers left in the year to 31 March 2026. Of those, 9.0% (846) had less than one year's service and a further 25.0% (2,357) had between one and less than 5 years. Resignation is the largest single route out, ahead of normal retirement. The share of resigners with under 5 years' service fell from 67% to 60.6%, but it is still well over half.
FTE (full-time equivalent) and headcount give slightly different totals, and the Home Office quotes length-of-service shares on each basis in different places. The figures describe the whole workforce, not any individual, and they do not tell you why people leave: the release does not include exit survey reasons. For the long-run trend see our resignation rate explainer and police workforce 2026.
Before you hand in your notice: a checklist
Most of what is hard to undo about leaving happens in the weeks before your notice goes in, not after. Work through these in order. None of them tells you whether to go; they make sure you know what you are giving up and what you keep.
- Get a pension statement. Ask your administrator what you have built up, which scheme each part of your service is in, and what happens on your intended leaving date. If you are close to 2 years' service in the 2015 scheme, ask how the date affects deferred membership.
- Check the route. If health is the reason, ask occupational health and your Federation rep whether ill-health retirement should be considered before you resign. The two routes have different pension outcomes, so ask first.
- Check the alternatives. Would a transfer, a career break, part-time working or a different role in your force solve the problem? These keep your service continuous.
- Check anything owed. Annual leave, time off in lieu, overtime, and any repayment agreements for training, relocation or degree fees. Ask HR in writing.
- Price replacement protection. Death-in-service cover and group insurance tied to service may stop. See death in service and insurance after leaving.
- Check your conduct position. If you are subject to any investigation, get advice before giving notice. See below.
- Declare any new business interest now. While you are still serving, regulation 8 of the Police Regulations 2003 requires written notice to the chief officer of a business interest you have or propose to have. See second jobs and business interests.
- Line up evidence for your CV. Note courses, accreditations and roles while you can still check dates. See the transferable skills guide. Do not take case material or personal data with you.
- Compare the job on offer honestly. Salary, pension, hours, security and progression, not salary alone. See jobs for ex-police officers.
A timeline for leaving
Timescales are a guide only. Your force's notice rules and HR process, and your pension administrator's turnaround times, decide the real dates.
| When | What to do | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 12 months before | Get a pension statement and ask the administrator what leaving on your chosen date means. Check any McCloud remedy choices. Read the resigning or retirement guide for your scheme. | Pension administrator; Federation or staff association rep |
| 3 to 6 months before | Price replacement cover for anything tied to service (life, income protection, group insurance). Ask your Federation branch what happens to group insurance and legal cover. Start building your civilian CV. | Federation branch; insurer or FCA-authorised adviser |
| 2 to 3 months before | Check leave balance, any time off in lieu, overtime owed, and any repayment clauses (for example training or relocation). Ask HR how final pay is calculated. | HR and payroll |
| When you give notice | Give written notice to the force in the form your force asks for, and keep a copy. If you are subject to a misconduct or gross misconduct investigation, get advice first. | Line manager; HR; Federation rep |
| Final weeks | Return kit and warrant card, hand over cases and property, and ask for a service record or reference letter. Update insurers about your change of occupation. | Line manager; HR |
| After you leave | Keep your pension paperwork and leaving date safe. Tell the administrator about any change of address. If you move into a security-cleared job within 12 months, tell the new employer about any national security clearance you held. | Pension administrator; new employer's security team |
What leaves with you, and what stays
Not sure yet? Career breaks and re-joining
If you are unsure, two rules matter: the career break scheme, which keeps you in the service, and the re-joiner rule, which governs coming back after you have left.
- Career break (Annex OO, from 22 February 2019). Open to officers who have completed probation. The break "shall not be greater than five years", save that in exceptional circumstances the chief officer may allow more. You remain a member of the force, but the Police Regulations provisions on pay, leave and allowances do not apply during the break, and you cannot take paid work or full-time education without the chief officer's agreement. Your force decides applications.
- Pension effect of a break. In the 2015 scheme, qualifying service does not count any career break or other unpaid leave (regulation 88). Ask the administrator what the break means for your pension before you apply.
- Re-joining (regulation 10B). Applies to a person who previously completed constable probation and then resigned or retired. The chief officer decides the rank, and the Secretary of State determines the probation period. The Home Office circular that introduced the current rule in 2019 removed an earlier five-year limit on re-joining.
- Vetting on return. The Vetting Code of Practice says those applying to re-join policing "must be fully re-vetted".
Regulation 10B makes re-joining possible; it does not oblige a force to take you back. Recruitment need, vetting and your record all come into it. Anyone dismissed and on the barred list cannot be employed or appointed by a law enforcement employer.
If you are under investigation or facing dismissal
Leaving does not end a conduct matter. Since 15 December 2017, Home Office Circular 012/2017 says officers under investigation can resign or retire, "but ensures that misconduct proceedings will be taken to a conclusion", and proceedings can also start after someone has left.
- Advisory list. The Vetting Code of Practice says that if an individual resigns or retires while subject to a gross misconduct investigation, their details must be entered on the police advisory list. From 21 September 2026 a law enforcement employer must check the advisory lists before employing or appointing anyone (Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 209).
- Barred list. Anyone dismissed from policing is placed on the police barred list kept by the College of Policing. Section 205 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (in force 21 September 2026) says a law enforcement employer may not employ or appoint a barred person. The same Act created barred and advisory lists for the NCA, British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence Police.
- Pension. Forfeiture rules are separate from dismissal. See what happens to my pension if dismissed.
For the process itself, see can I resign before a misconduct hearing and the misconduct hub. Speak to your Federation rep or a solicitor before you give notice.
What people get wrong about leaving
- "If I resign I lose my pension." Not in general. In the 2015 scheme, 2 years' qualifying service makes you a deferred member and the pension you built stays yours, payable later. What you lose is the future pension you would have built.
- "Resigning ends the misconduct case." It does not. Proceedings can continue against former officers, and leaving during a gross misconduct investigation puts you on the advisory list.
- "Ill-health retirement and resigning because I'm ill are the same." They are separate processes with different pension outcomes. Ask before you resign.
- "Once I leave I can never come back." Regulation 10B allows re-joining after resignation or retirement, subject to the force and full re-vetting. The barred list is the main bar.
- "My vetting follows me to the next job." Police vetting is for policing. National security clearance is lapsed on leaving and can be reinstated only within 12 months, through the new employer's sponsor.
- "Most people who leave are near retirement." Not now. Resignation is the most common route, and 60.6% of resigners in the year to March 2026 had under 5 years' service.
- "A higher salary elsewhere means I'll be better off." Maybe, but compare pension, hours and security too. See pay reality in civilian jobs.
Who to ask, and what to ask them
Map of this guide series
Each page in the series answers one part of the leaving decision.
Related pages elsewhere on PolicePay:
- What leaving the police actually costs you: the calculator.
- Ill-health retirement: when leaving is on medical grounds.
- Insurance after leaving or retiring.
- Transfers, pensions and welfare hubs.
- Police staff: if you are thinking of moving into a staff role.
What we could not verify, and how we handled it
- The current notice period in the retirement determination. Regulation 14 leaves notice to a Home Secretary determination (Annex D). We could not read a current consolidated text of Annex D, so this page gives no number. The resigning guide and your HR department are the places to check.
- Deferred pension ages in the 1987 and 2006 schemes. Not restated here; see the resigning guide and your administrator.
- Group insurance after resignation. Branch pages we have read describe retirement, not resignation.
- Why officers resign. The Home Office release does not report reasons, so we do not claim any.
- Probation length for re-joiners. Set by a Secretary of State determination and can be delegated to chief officers; ask the force.
- Whether a voluntary exit scheme is open in your force. Annex DA is discretionary and local.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my police pension if I leave the police?
It depends on your scheme and your service. In the 2015 scheme you become a deferred member if you have at least 2 years' qualifying service (regulation 43(2) of the Police Pensions Regulations 2015), and a deferred pension is paid from your deferred pension age, which the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 sets at state pension age or 65 if higher. The 1987 and 2006 schemes have their own rules. Our resigning guide covers each scheme; ask your administrator for a statement.
How many police officers leave each year?
In the year to 31 March 2026, 9,240 full-time equivalent (FTE) officers left the 43 territorial forces in England and Wales, excluding transfers, up 5.1% on 8,795 the year before (Home Office, published 22 July 2026). The leaver rate was 6.3%.
What is the police resignation rate?
The Home Office voluntary resignation rate was 3.2% in the year to 31 March 2026, the same as the previous year. Voluntary resignation was 51.4% of all leavers.
Are most police resigners new officers?
Most, but fewer than a year earlier. Of officers who left by voluntary resignation in the year to 31 March 2026, 60.6% had less than 5 years' service, 17.2% had 5 to under 10 years and 22.1% had 10 years or more. In the year to 31 March 2025 the figure for under 5 years was 67%.
Can I re-join the police after resigning?
Yes, in principle. Regulation 10B of the Police Regulations 2003, as substituted from 22 February 2019, covers former officers who completed constable probation and then resigned or retired; the chief officer decides the rank. The Vetting Code of Practice says those re-joining after leaving must be fully re-vetted. Whether a force takes you back is its decision.
Can I take a career break instead of resigning?
Officers who have completed probation can apply under the career break determination (Annex OO, from 22 February 2019). A break cannot normally exceed five years, you remain a member of the force, and pay stops. Your force decides whether to grant it.
Can I resign if I am under investigation for misconduct?
Since 15 December 2017 officers under investigation can resign or retire, but misconduct proceedings can continue after they leave (Home Office Circular 012/2017). The Vetting Code of Practice says an individual who resigns or retires while subject to a gross misconduct investigation must be entered on the police advisory list. Get Federation or legal advice before giving notice.
What is the police barred list and who can't employ me if I am on it?
The College of Policing keeps the police barred list of people dismissed from policing. From 21 September 2026, section 205 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 says a law enforcement employer may not employ or appoint a barred person. Law enforcement employers include chief officers, the NCA, British Transport Police, local policing bodies, HMICFRS, the IOPC and the College of Policing (section 206).
Does my police vetting carry over to a civilian job?
Police vetting is a clearance for policing, granted for a defined period, and it does not transfer to a civilian employer. If you held national security vetting (such as SC or DV), UK Security Vetting guidance says it lapses when a leaver notification is submitted, but may be reinstated if you move to another security-cleared role within 12 months. See our transferable skills guide for the detail.
Do I keep Police Federation membership after I leave?
The Police Federation describes itself as the staff association for constables, sergeants and inspectors (including chief inspectors), so membership follows serving rank. Branch pages differ on group insurance after retirement, and we found no national rule for officers who resign, so ask your branch before your last day.
What stops on my last day?
Pay, pension accrual as an active member, cover that depends on active membership (such as death-in-service benefits), your warrant and police powers, and access to force systems. Your personal duty not to obtain, disclose or keep personal data without the controller's consent continues under section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018.
Is this advice about whether I should leave?
No. This page explains the rules and the options. It cannot weigh your personal circumstances. Talk to your Federation or staff association rep, the pension administrator and, for large pension or protection decisions, an FCA-authorised adviser.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 30 September 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.
- Home Office: Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2026 (published 22 July 2026) — 9,240 FTE leavers; 6.3% leaver rate; 51.4% resigned; 3.2% resignation rate; 60.6% of resigners under 5 years; 8,872 FTE joiners (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Home Office: Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2025 — 8,795 FTE leavers; 53.1% resigned; 3.2% rate; 67% of resigners under 5 years (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/445), regulation 43 (legislation.gov.uk) — deferred member: at least 2 years' qualifying service (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, regulation 88 — qualifying service excludes gaps, career breaks and other unpaid leave (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, regulation 114 — review and cancellation of the enhanced upper tier ill-health pension (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Public Service Pensions Act 2013, section 10 — normal pension age 60 for police; deferred pension age is state pension age or 65 if higher (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 14 (retirement) — retirement and notice set by Secretary of State determination (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10B (member re-joining a police force) — re-joiners who completed probation; chief officer decides rank (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Home Office Circular 003/2019: regulation 10B re-joiners, and Annex OO career breaks — career break up to five years; member remains in the force; in force 22 February 2019 (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Home Office Circular 012/2017: former officers, barred list and amended retirement determination — officers under investigation can resign or retire and proceedings continue (from 15 December 2017) (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Crime and Policing Act 2026, sections 205, 206 and 209 — law enforcement employers may not employ barred persons; duty to check advisory lists; in force 21 September 2026 (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Act 1996, Part 4A (barred and advisory lists) — College of Policing keeps the lists; ss88C-88E and 88K omitted from 21 September 2026 (accessed 30 September 2026)
- College of Policing: Vetting Code of Practice (gov.uk, updated 20 July 2023) — clearances for a defined period; transferees and re-joiners fully re-vetted; advisory list on leaving during gross misconduct investigation (accessed 30 September 2026)
- UK Security Vetting: aftercare and existing clearances (updated 23 May 2024) — clearance lapsed on leaver notification; reinstatement within 12 months (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Annex DA: compensation lump sum on voluntary retirement (amended from 1 July 2026) — discretionary voluntary exit payment; exclusions for pending misconduct (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation of England and Wales: becoming a member — membership for constables, sergeants and inspectors (including chief inspectors) (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Data Protection Act 2018, section 170 — offence to obtain, disclose or retain personal data without the controller's consent (accessed 30 September 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Pensions, pay and protection
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. This page is general information, not financial, pension, tax, employment-law or careers advice, and it cannot consider your personal circumstances. Pension decisions can be hard to reverse: ask your pension administrator for a statement and, where the amounts are large, an FCA-authorised adviser. Rules and figures change, so check the sources for the date you are reading this. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 30 September 2026.