Jobs For
Ex-Police Officers
Where former officers realistically go, what those jobs pay according to official sources, which ones need a licence, clearance or degree, and how a new job sits alongside your police pension. Every pay figure names its source; where we could not find an official range, we say so and give no number.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 30 September 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Police staff investigation and analysis, the NCA, Border Force, immigration, HMRC, trading standards, prisons, probation and courts, and private-sector fraud, compliance, security, cyber, insurance, training and driving instruction. Many pay less than a top-of-scale constable at first. Contracted security needs an SIA licence; private investigation currently does not; some roles need a degree or clearance.
Where former officers go: the honest overview
The Home Office counts how many officers leave and why (resignation, retirement, dismissal and so on), but its workforce statistics do not track where they go next. So there is no official league table of destinations, and any claim that "most ex-officers go into X" should be treated with caution. What we can do is set out the common destinations, what official sources say they pay and require, and where the catches are.
Most ranges are from National Careers Service (NCS) job profiles, read on 30 September 2026. NCS shows a "starter" and "experienced" figure for each job and does not state the survey year, so we label them "read Sep 2026". They are national typical ranges, not offers, and London and specialist posts may differ. NCA figures are the pay review body's recommended ranges from 1 August 2025. Police figures come from our 2026 pay scales data.
Before comparing, it helps to know how to present your experience: see transferable skills for a civilian CV. For the decision to leave itself, start at the leaving the police hub.
Staying in the policing family: police staff roles
Many former officers move into police staff roles, in their own force or another. The work can be close to what you did, but the employment terms, pay grading and pension are different.
| Role | Typical entry requirements | Licence / clearance | Pay (source, period) | Honest notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police staff investigator | Investigation experience; PIP accreditation often asked for | Force vetting (fresh vetting) | Set locally by each force: no national figure. See civilian investigator pay | The closest match to detective work without a warrant. Staff, not officer, terms and pension. |
| Intelligence analyst | Analytical skills; some posts ask for a degree | Vetting; NCS lists British citizenship and 3 years' UK residence | £20,000 to £52,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Wide range covers police, government and private sector posts. |
| Scenes of crime officer (CSI) | Degree, progression from police support roles, or trainee entry (NCS) | Enhanced checks; driving licence usually needed | £24,000 to £43,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Different skill set from investigation; attendance at distressing scenes. |
| PCSO | Force recruitment and training | Force vetting | £24,000 to £34,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | A pay cut for most former constables. |
| Control room, detention, other staff roles | Role-specific training | Force vetting | Local grading: see police staff pay scales | Staff are usually in the Local Government Pension Scheme, not the police scheme. |
- Vetting starts again. The Vetting Code of Practice says those re-joining policing after leaving must be fully re-vetted.
- Pension changes. Staff are generally in the Local Government Pension Scheme. See LGPS vs police pension.
- Pay is local. Police staff pay is set by each force's grading. See police staff pay scales and the police staff hub.
- Civilian investigators. See civilian investigator explained and civilian investigator pay.
Other law enforcement and government roles
These roles use investigation, enforcement and public-protection skills most directly. Most are public sector, with national pay structures, their own pension schemes and nationality or residence rules.
| Role | Typical entry requirements | Licence / clearance | Pay (source, period) | Honest notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Crime Agency officer | Recruitment by advert; the NCA review body says Grade 5 is equivalent to police constable | Security vetting (check the advert for the level) | Grade 5 standard range £36,057 to £46,507; Grade 4 £45,326 to £54,909 (NCA Remuneration Review Body, recommended ranges from 1 August 2025) | The review body says the NCA wants to recruit mid-career police officers and that pay lags police pay. |
| Border Force officer | Direct entry, apprenticeship or progression from assistant officer | UK citizen, lived in UK for last 5 years, security vetting, medical, driving licence (NCS) | £28,000 to £37,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Civil Service terms and pension. |
| Immigration officer (Home Office) | Direct entry or apprenticeship | UK citizen, security checks, enhanced checks, medical, driving licence (NCS) | £30,000 to £44,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Civil Service terms and pension. |
| HMRC investigation and tax roles | Tax specialist programme needs at least a second-class degree or an accountancy qualification (NCS); investigation posts are advertised by grade | Civil Service nationality rules | Tax inspector £30,000 to £57,000; Civil Service executive officer £30,000 to £45,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Check the grade and pay in each advert; NCS has no separate HMRC investigator profile. |
| Trading standards officer (local authority) | Degree, apprenticeship or trainee post; professional qualifications through the Chartered Trading Standards Institute framework | Background checks | £26,000 to £50,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Consumer and business law enforcement; a qualification route to complete. |
| Prison officer | No formal qualifications needed for direct entry (NCS) | Enhanced checks, over 18, medical | £33,000 to £40,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Shift work continues. |
| Probation officer | Relevant degree plus the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP), or a level 5 qualification (NCS) | Enhanced checks | £35,000 to £45,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Probation services officer is an entry route: £28,000 to £34,000 (NCS, read Sep 2026). |
| Youth offending team officer | Degree, level 5 apprenticeship, or experience | Enhanced checks | £26,000 to £39,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Local authority employer. |
| Court usher / courts roles | College course, apprenticeship or direct | Enhanced checks | Court usher £24,000 to £27,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Lower pay than most police roles on these ranges. |
| Coroner's officer | Employer training | Employer checks | No official national range found: no figure given | Provided by the local authority, or by the local policing body where it supplies them (Coroners and Justice Act 2009, s24). Pay depends on the employer. |
| Enforcement agent (bailiff) | Apprenticeship or trainee post; a certificate is needed before working independently (NCS) | Enhanced checks, driving licence | £24,000 to £40,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Certificated before working independently. |
The National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body's 2025 report describes Grade 5 as "equivalent to the rank of police constable" and says the maximum of the Grade 5 scale was then 7.6% (nearly £3,700) below the top of the police constable scale. It says the gap is undermining the Agency's ability to recruit "mid-career police officers". That is a statement about pay and recruitment need, not a promise that former officers are preferred.
Private-sector destinations
Private-sector pay varies more by employer, location and sector than public-sector pay, and fewer roles have official pay data. Where we could not find an NCS profile or other official range, the table says so.
| Role | Typical entry requirements | Licence / clearance | Pay (source, period) | Honest notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fraud and financial crime investigation | Investigation experience; sector qualifications help | Employer checks; clearance only for some public or government contracts | No official NCS or government range found: no figure given | Banks, insurers, public bodies. Public-sector counter-fraud work has Government Counter Fraud Profession standards. |
| Compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) | Sector knowledge; professional qualifications common | Employer checks | No official NCS or government range found: no figure given | Regulated firms; commercial awareness matters. |
| Corporate security manager | Apprenticeship, progression or direct entry | SIA licence for agency and contractor posts (NCS) | Security manager £25,000 to £38,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Senior in-house corporate roles can differ; no official figure for them. |
| Close protection (bodyguard) | Level 3 Certificate for Working as a Close Protection Operative with an SIA-approved provider, plus close protection first aid | SIA close protection licence; over 18; driving licence; enhanced checks | Day rates £150 to over £300 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | NCS gives day rates, not a salary; hours are variable. Day rates are not annual income. |
| Security officer / door supervisor | Licence-linked qualification | SIA licence for contracted work; door supervision at licensed premises needs one even in-house | Security officer £20,000 to £35,000; door supervisor £25,000 to £30,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Well below constable pay on these ranges. |
| Store detective / retail loss prevention | Apprenticeship or direct | May need an SIA licence for some jobs (NCS) | £22,000 to £32,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | NCS lists law enforcement background as one route in. |
| Private investigation | No mandatory qualification | No SIA licence currently required (see below); data protection fee to the ICO if you run a business using personal data, unless exempt | No NCS profile or official range found: no figure given | Income depends on clients. Lawful data handling is essential. |
| Insurance investigation and claims | Claims handler: experience or GCSEs; loss adjuster: degree, apprenticeship or progression | Employer checks | Claims handler £23,000 to £40,000; loss adjuster £25,000 to £65,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Claims handlers flag suspected fraud for investigation. |
| Cyber and digital forensics | Degree, apprenticeship or professional certification usual | Security checks for public-sector posts | Forensic computer analyst £30,000 to £65,000; cyber intelligence officer £25,000 to £50,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Technical skills needed beyond police digital evidence work. |
| Forensic collision investigation | Degree, training with a force or company, or engineering background | Over 18; driving licence | £30,000 to £45,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Roads policing accreditations are relevant. |
| Risk, resilience and emergency planning | Experience; professional qualifications common | Depends on employer | No NCS profile or official range found: no figure given | Employers and pay vary widely. |
| Data protection officer | Degree, apprenticeship or professional body training | Employer checks | £29,000 to £50,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Information governance background helps. |
| Training, education and assessing | Training officer: experience plus subject qualifications; FE teacher: teaching qualification | Enhanced checks for FE teaching | Training officer £24,000 to £40,000; further education teacher £28,000 to £47,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Police training and tutoring experience is directly relevant. |
| Driving instructor (ADI) | Pass ADI parts 1, 2 and 3 | Full licence held 3 years; over 21; motoring conviction and background checks | £32,000 to £45,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | If self-employed, income depends on bookings. |
| Project management | Degree, apprenticeship, or internal progression; PRINCE2 or Agile certification helps | Employer checks | Business project manager £29,000 to £75,000 (National Careers Service, read Sep 2026) | Change and programme roles in public and private sectors. |
Commercial roles expect commercial awareness: an understanding of clients, cost and risk to the business. Our transferable skills guide covers how to show it.
Licences, clearances and degrees: who needs what
- SIA licence (contracted security). GOV.UK (updated 29 January 2026) says you need an SIA licence when the work is part of a "contract for services" and involves a licensable activity. Manned guarding covers cash and valuables in transit, close protection, door supervision, public space surveillance (CCTV) and security guarding; key holding is also licensable. A front line licence is for people who carry out the activity; a non-front line licence is for those who manage, supervise or employ them. In-house employees generally do not need a licence, except for door supervision at licensed premises.
- Private investigation: no licence currently. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 contains provisions for regulating private investigation, but they have not been brought into force. In a 2022 FOI response the SIA said "No regulation has been proposed or implemented" and that it had no plans at that time relating to regulating private investigations. That could change, so check before you set up.
- Data protection. The ICO says organisations, including sole traders, that use personal information need to pay a data protection fee unless exempt. Section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018 makes it an offence to obtain or disclose personal data without the controller's consent, which matters for investigation work.
- National security clearance. Only sponsored by an employer for a post. A clearance held in the police lapses on leaving and can be reinstated within 12 months if you move into another cleared role. See vetting after you leave.
- Degrees and professional qualifications. Probation officer (relevant degree plus PQiP, or a level 5 qualification), HMRC tax specialist programme (at least a second-class degree or an accountancy qualification), further education teaching (teaching qualification), trading standards (CTSI framework) and most cyber roles (degree or professional certification) are the main ones on the NCS profiles we read. A PCDA degree or DHEP graduate diploma is an academic award you can use.
- Driving instructor. NCS says you must pass ADI parts 1, 2 and 3, hold a full UK or EU licence for at least 3 years, be over 21 and pass motoring conviction and background checks.
- Nationality and residence. NCS lists UK citizenship and 5 years' UK residence for Border Force, UK citizenship for immigration officers, and Civil Service nationality rules for HMRC roles.
Self-employment and consultancy
Some former officers set up as investigators, trainers, consultants, close protection operatives or driving instructors. The practical points:
- While you are still serving, regulation 8 of the Police Regulations 2003 requires you to give the chief officer written notice of a business interest you have or propose to have, and the force decides whether it is compatible with your role. See second jobs and business interests.
- Tax. GOV.UK says that if you start working for yourself you may need to report your income to HMRC. Check the self-employment guidance for your situation.
- Licences. If you supply licensable security services to clients, SIA licensing applies to you and to anyone you supply.
- Data protection. Pay the ICO fee if required and set up lawful processes for any personal data.
- Income is not salary. Day rates (for example the NCS close protection figure of £150 to over £300 a day) are gross of unpaid days, expenses, insurance and pension.
- Pension. Self-employed people have no employer contribution. Compare with what you give up in the police scheme.
Where to look first, by policing background
A starting point only: most people have worked in several roles, and your interests matter as much as your last posting. Use it with the skills guide, which shows how to evidence each skill.
| Background | Destinations to research first | Skills that carry across | Catch to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Response | Security management, prisons, Border Force, immigration enforcement, operations roles | Decision-making, de-escalation, risk | Many pay below top-of-scale constable at entry (see tables). |
| Neighbourhood | Community safety and local authority roles, youth offending teams, housing | Partnership working, problem-solving | Local government pay and the LGPS. |
| CID and detective | Police staff investigator, NCA, HMRC, fraud and financial crime, insurance investigation, trading standards | Investigation, interviewing, file quality | Private fraud and compliance roles have no official pay range we could source. |
| Custody | Detention roles, prisons, probation services officer, health and social care compliance | Welfare risk, statutory compliance, records | Probation officer needs PQiP or a level 5 qualification. |
| Roads | Forensic collision investigation, driving instruction, fleet safety | Collision investigation, driving standards | ADI needs three tests; collision investigation values accreditation. |
| Firearms and public order | Training and assessing, close protection, security management | Planning, standards, decisions under pressure | Close protection needs a Level 3 certificate and an SIA licence. |
| PSD and integrity | Workplace and HR investigations, regulators, compliance | Impartial investigation, legal frameworks | Keep all case detail out of applications. |
| Intelligence and cyber | Intelligence analyst, cyber intelligence, digital forensics, data protection | Analysis, digital evidence, information governance | Technical certifications often expected. |
Jobs for retired police officers
If you have retired with a pension in payment, the question is often part-time or flexible work rather than a full career. Points specific to retired officers:
- Roles people often look at. Training and assessing, court roles, coroner's officer, investigation contracts, driving instruction and consultancy. Pay for each is in the tables above; where there is no official range, we say so.
- Ill-health pensions. If you have an enhanced upper tier ill-health pension, it is based on being unfit for any regular employment and can be reviewed (regulation 114 of the 2015 regulations). Get advice before taking work. Lower tier pensions assume you can work elsewhere, but can also be reviewed.
- Returning to policing. If you want to re-join as an officer or work as police staff, ask your administrator whether any rule affects your pension in payment. We did not verify one either way.
- Tax. Your police pension is taxable income, so earnings from a new job are taxed alongside it. Check your tax code when you start.
- Associations for former officers. NARPO describes itself as representing former police officers and staff; check its membership rules if you want to join.
Pay reality: police pay against civilian pay
Many common destinations pay less than an experienced constable, at least at first. That is not a reason to stay or go; it is a number to know before you decide.
| Measure | Annual figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Constable, starting pay (pay point 1, from 1 September 2026) | £32,255 | PolicePay pay data from official 2025/26 scales plus 3.5% |
| Constable, top of scale (pay point 7, from 1 September 2026) | £52,015 | As above |
| Sergeant, top of scale (from 1 September 2026) | £58,175 | As above |
| UK median full-time gross annual earnings (April 2025, provisional) | £39,039 | ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 |
| NCA Grade 5 standard range maximum (recommended from 1 August 2025) | £46,507 | NCA Remuneration Review Body, 11th report |
| Probation officer, experienced | £45,000 | National Careers Service, read Sep 2026 |
| Security officer, experienced | £35,000 | National Careers Service, read Sep 2026 |
- Compare total reward, not basic pay. Police pay may include allowances and overtime; civilian roles may include bonuses or none. Hours, shifts and on-call matter.
- Pension is the big difference. In the 2015 police scheme you pay 12.88% to 14.22% of pensionable pay (from 1 April 2026) into a defined benefit scheme. Under automatic enrolment, the legal minimum for a workplace pension is 8% of qualifying earnings in total, of which at least 3% from the employer. Ask any new employer what they pay in and what type of scheme it is.
- Public-sector moves keep a defined benefit pension. Civil Service and local government roles have their own schemes, which work differently from the police scheme.
- Starting point. NCS "starter" figures are what you should expect if you have no sector experience, even with long police service.
For a fuller comparison see police vs private sector earnings, police pay scales 2026 and the leaving cost calculator.
How a new job interacts with your police pension
Step by step: from idea to offer
- Shortlist three destinations from the tables, using your strongest skills by role (see the skills guide).
- Check the hard requirements: licence, clearance, degree, nationality, driving licence.
- Check the pay against the sourced range and the job adverts, and against your total police package.
- Get your pension position from your administrator before agreeing a start date.
- Declare any business interest while serving if you plan self-employment or a second job.
- Apply with translated evidence, not police jargon.
- Give notice only once you understand what you keep and what stops. See the leaving hub checklist.
Questions to ask a prospective employer
- What is the salary, and is there a published pay range or grade for the post?
- What pension scheme is it, and what percentage does the employer pay in?
- What vetting or clearance does the post need, and who sponsors it? How long does it take?
- Is a licence needed (for example SIA), and who pays for training and the licence?
- What are the hours, shift patterns, on-call and travel expectations?
- Is there a probation period, and what notice applies on each side?
- What qualifications will I be expected to gain, and does the employer fund them?
- How would my police service be recognised in grading or starting pay?
What people get wrong
- "Employers queue up for ex-police." We found no primary source showing employers generally prefer former officers. The NCA review body's comment is about pay and recruitment need.
- "I'll walk into a £60,000 investigation job." Some roles reach that level, but most NCS ranges for common destinations start well below it, and higher-paid roles often need extra qualifications.
- "Private investigators must be SIA licensed." Not currently. Contracted security work is licensed; private investigation is not.
- "My clearance makes me valuable forever." It lapses on leaving and can only be reinstated within 12 months, through a sponsor.
- "Police staff pay is the same everywhere." It is set locally.
- "A day rate of £300 is £78,000 a year." Only if you are booked every working day, with no costs. Self-employed income needs expenses, gaps and pension taken off.
What we could not verify, and how we handled it
- Where officers go after leaving. No official destination data; we make no claims about proportions.
- Pay for fraud investigators, compliance and AML, private investigators, emergency planners, coroner's officers and senior corporate security roles. We found no NCS profile or other official national range, so no figure is given.
- The year behind NCS ranges. NCS does not state it; we label ranges "read Sep 2026".
- NCA 2026/27 pay. We could not open the 2026 review body report, so we show the recommended 2025/26 ranges and label them.
- Whether the government accepted every NCA recommendation in full. Check the government response and current adverts.
- Re-employment rules for police pensioners who return to policing. Not verified; ask your administrator.
- Preferential hiring of former officers by any employer. No primary source found.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can ex-police officers do?
Common destinations include police staff roles (investigator, analyst, CSI), other law enforcement and government (NCA, Border Force, Home Office immigration, HMRC, trading standards, prisons, probation, courts, coroner's officers), private-sector investigation, compliance, security and cyber roles, insurance, training and driving instruction, project management and self-employment. Which suits you depends on your skills, qualifications and what licences or clearance a role needs.
What are the best paid jobs for ex-police officers?
On the National Careers Service ranges we read (September 2026), the widest upper ends were business project manager (up to £75,000), forensic computer analyst and insurance loss adjuster (up to £65,000) and tax inspector (up to £57,000). These are typical experienced ranges, not what a new entrant earns, and they need skills or qualifications beyond policing.
Do ex-police officers need an SIA licence for security work?
For contracted security work, yes. GOV.UK says an SIA licence is needed when the work is part of a contract for services and involves a licensable activity: cash and valuables in transit, close protection, door supervision, public space surveillance (CCTV), security guarding and key holding. In-house employees generally do not need one, except for door supervision at licensed premises.
Do private investigators need a licence in England and Wales?
Not currently. The private investigation provisions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 have not been brought into force, and in a 2022 FOI response the SIA said no regulation had been proposed or implemented and it had no plans relating to regulating private investigations. If you run a business that uses personal information, the ICO says you need to pay a data protection fee unless exempt.
Does the NCA recruit ex-police officers?
The NCA recruits by open advert and we found no rule that it prefers former officers. Its pay review body said in 2025 that the pay gap with police was undermining the Agency's ability to recruit mid-career police officers. Its recommended Grade 5 range from 1 August 2025 was £36,057 to £46,507.
Will I earn more outside the police?
Sometimes, but not usually straight away. From 1 September 2026 a constable at the top of the scale earns £52,015 basic. The ONS median full-time salary was £39,039 in April 2025 (provisional). Many common destinations have NCS ranges that top out below the constable maximum, and the police pension is worth more than most workplace pensions. Compare the whole package.
Can I work while receiving a police pension?
Generally, yes, if you retired on age grounds or with a lower tier ill-health pension. An enhanced upper tier ill-health pension in the 2015 scheme is based on being unfit for any regular employment, can be reviewed at intervals of at least 5 years, and ends if you are found no longer unfit for regular employment (regulation 114). Ask your administrator before taking work, and ask about any rule on being re-employed in policing.
What jobs can retired police officers do?
The same range as other former officers, plus roles that suit part-time or flexible work: training and assessing, coroner's officer, court roles, investigation contracts, driving instruction and consultancy. If you retired with an ill-health pension, check the pension conditions first.
Do I need a degree for jobs after the police?
Not for many. On the National Careers Service profiles, prison officer, security and enforcement agent roles do not need one. Probation officer usually needs a relevant degree and the PQiP or a level 5 qualification; the HMRC tax specialist programme needs at least a second-class degree or an accountancy qualification; cyber and digital forensics usually expect a degree or professional certification.
Does my police security clearance help me get a job?
Only in roles that need it, and only for a limited time. UK Security Vetting says a national security clearance lapses when a leaver notification is submitted and may be reinstated only if you join another cleared role within 12 months. Police vetting does not transfer. See our transferable skills guide.
Can I become a police staff investigator after resigning?
Yes, if a force recruits you. Pay is set locally by each force, you will be re-vetted, and staff are normally in the Local Government Pension Scheme rather than the police scheme. See our civilian investigator pages.
Can I work in security without an SIA licence?
Yes, in some roles. GOV.UK says in-house employees generally do not need an SIA licence because the licence requirement applies to licensable activity supplied under a contract for services. The exceptions are door supervision at licensed premises (and vehicle immobilising in Northern Ireland), which need a licence even in-house.
Can an ex-police officer join Border Force?
Former officers apply like anyone else. The National Careers Service lists the requirements as being over 18, a UK citizen and resident in the UK for the last 5 years, with background checks and security vetting, a medical, good fitness and a full driving licence. It gives a typical range of £28,000 to £37,000 (read September 2026).
Should I line up a job before I resign?
That is your decision. Practical points: while serving, you must give written notice of any business interest you have or propose (regulation 8 of the Police Regulations 2003), and your leaving date can affect your pension. See the resigning guide.
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.
- National Careers Service job profiles (read 30 September 2026) — salary ranges and entry requirements for each profile named in the tables; NCS does not state the year of each range (accessed 30 September 2026)
- National Careers Service: bodyguard — day rates £150 to over £300; Level 3 close protection certificate; SIA licence (accessed 30 September 2026)
- National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body, 11th report (2025) — recommended 2025/26 pay ranges (Appendix G); Grade 5 equivalent to constable; recruiting mid-career police officers (accessed 30 September 2026)
- GOV.UK: find out if you need an SIA licence (updated 29 January 2026) — licensable activities; contract for services; in-house exemption and exceptions (accessed 30 September 2026)
- SIA: questions regarding SIA regulation of private investigators (FOI, 10 March 2022) — no regulation proposed or implemented; no SIA plans (accessed 30 September 2026)
- ICO: data protection fee — organisations including sole traders that use personal information pay a fee unless exempt (accessed 30 September 2026)
- ONS: Employee earnings in the UK, April 2025 (ASHE, 23 October 2025) — median full-time gross annual earnings £39,039 (provisional) (accessed 30 September 2026)
- GOV.UK: workplace pensions, what you, your employer and the government pay — automatic enrolment minimum 8% total, 3% employer, on qualifying earnings (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales (published 1 August 2025), via PolicePay pay data — 2025/26 officer scales; 2026/27 figures are those plus the confirmed 3.5% from 1 September 2026 (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)
- Coroners and Justice Act 2009, section 24 — coroner's officers provided by the local authority unless provided by a local policing body (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 8 — written notice of business interests while serving (accessed 30 September 2026)
- UKSV: aftercare and existing clearances — clearance lapses on leaving; 12-month reinstatement window (accessed 30 September 2026)
- GOV.UK: working for yourself — you may need to report self-employed income to HMRC (accessed 30 September 2026)
- NARPO (National Association of Retired Police Officers) — represents former police officers and staff; check membership rules (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Public Sector Fraud Authority: Government Counter Fraud Profession standards — public-sector counter-fraud professional standards (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.