Dorset Police Jobs
Live vacancies, recruitment status and — the bit job boards leave out — what the job actually pays at Dorset once regional allowances, tax and pension are accounted for.
Also searched as dorset police, bournemouth police, poole police. Dorset Police covers Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Dorset vacancies right now
This force's recruitment system blocks automated checks, so we can't read it directly.
We can't read Dorset Police's vacancy list directly, so there's no live advert list on this page. Their careers site is linked above, and you can ask us to alert you below.
What Dorset actually pays
Police pay is set nationally, so the advert figure is the same almost everywhere. What changes between forces is the allowance on top — and no force advert tells you what lands in your account after the 13.44% pension contribution.
Starting salary
£33,969
National scale, no supplement
Take-home
£2,027
per month, after tax, NI and pension
Top of scale
£52,015
constable, after 7 years
Against all 43
#11
top payer is the Met at £42,331
Constable pay scale at Dorset
Effective 2026-09-01. You move up one point each year.
| Pay point | National base | At Dorset |
|---|---|---|
| Point 0 (on appointment) | £33,969 | £33,969 |
| Point 1 | £37,648 | £37,648 |
| Point 2 | £39,688 | £39,688 |
| Point 3 | £41,976 | £41,976 |
| Point 4 | £43,228 | £43,228 |
| Point 5 | £44,544 | £44,544 |
| Point 6 | £48,258 | £48,258 |
| Point 7 | £52,015 | £52,015 |
How to join Dorset
We don't hold a confirmed route list for Dorset right now. These are the routes used across England and Wales — their careers site shows which are currently open.
PCEP
Police Constable Entry Programme
A non-degree route to becoming a police constable, with training delivered by the force and no university study attached.
Around two years to confirmation as a constable
PCDA
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship route where you earn a full constable salary while studying for a degree in professional policing practice.
Three years, ending in a degree and confirmation as a constable
DHEP
Degree Holder Entry Programme
A two-year route for people who already hold a degree in any subject, leading to a graduate diploma in professional policing practice.
Two years to confirmation as a constable
Detective
Detective Entry Routes
Direct-entry and degree-holder detective programmes that take you into investigative work without first spending years in uniform.
Two years to substantive detective constable, in most schemes
Transferee
Transferee (Serving Officers)
A lateral move for officers already serving with another Home Office force, keeping rank, pay point and pension scheme.
Typically three to six months from application to start date
Rejoiner
Rejoiners (Former Officers)
A route back into policing for officers who previously resigned or retired in good standing.
Often faster than initial entry — a shortened conversion rather than a full programme
Where you'd be policing
Dorset Police covers Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, with headquarters at Winfrith. New officers are usually posted to a division rather than a station of their choosing, so it is worth being realistic about commuting across the whole force area.
Dorset recruitment questions
Is Dorset Police recruiting right now? +
This force's recruitment system blocks automated checks, so we can't read it directly.
How much do Dorset Police officers get paid? +
A new constable at Dorset Police starts on £33,969 a year on the national police pay scale, with no regional supplement. That rises to £52,015 at the top of the constable scale after seven years. After tax, National Insurance and the 13.44% pension contribution, the starting figure is roughly £2,027 a month in your hand.
Which entry routes does Dorset Police use? +
We don't currently hold a confirmed route list for Dorset Police. Most forces in England and Wales recruit through PCEP, PCDA or DHEP, plus transferee and special constable routes. Their careers site has the live position.
Where would I be posted with Dorset Police? +
Dorset Police covers Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, with headquarters at Winfrith. The main population centres are Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Dorchester. Posting is usually to a division rather than a station of your choosing, so it is worth being realistic about commuting across the whole force area.
Tell me when Dorset opens
Dorset Police windows can close in days. Register once and we'll email you when a new Dorset vacancy appears — and, only if you tick the box, introduce you to their recruitment team.
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