Rejoiner
Rejoiners (Former Officers)
A route back for former officers who completed constable probation and resigned or retired, appointed at a rank the chief officer decides.
Also searched as police rejoiner, rejoin the police, returning police officer. We currently see 5 forces referencing this route, with 4 live adverts we can read directly.
Short answer
A route back for former officers who completed constable probation and resigned or retired, appointed at a rank the chief officer decides. Rejoiners returning at the same or a lower rank go back onto the scale at a point reflecting previous service in that rank (regulation 24). On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed 16 forces recruiting through this route. You apply to the force, not to a national scheme.
Forces listing Rejoiner on 1 October 2026
From the national joining the police website's Rejoiner list, read on 1 October 2026. It is a dated reading, not a live feed, and drops off this page once it is more than five weeks old.
Avon and Somerset
South West · from £32,255
Bedfordshire
East of England · from £34,325
Cumbria
North West · from £32,255
Devon and Cornwall
South West · from £32,255
Dorset
South West · from £32,255
Essex
East of England · from £35,360
Gloucestershire
South West · from £32,255
Hampshire
South East · from £34,325
Hertfordshire
East of England · from £35,360
Norfolk
East of England · from £32,255
Northumbria
North East · from £32,255
Suffolk
East of England · from £32,255
Surrey
South East · from £35,360
Sussex
South East · from £34,325
Thames Valley
South East · from £35,360
West Midlands
West Midlands · from £32,255
Length
Probation of 6 months if you rejoin within 12 months at your old rank, otherwise 12 months
Who it's for
Former officers returning to the same or a different force. There has been no five-year limit since February 2019.
Pay
Based on previous service in the rank
What you need
- Previous service in which you completed constable probation, ending in resignation or retirement (regulation 10B)
- Not a transferee, secondee or officer returning from a career break
- Fresh vetting and medical; rejoining as a constable also means the national selection stages in regulation 10(1)(eb)
Worth knowing first
- Returning at the same or a lower rank, your pay point reflects previous service in that rank (regulation 24)
- Pension treatment depends on your old scheme and the gap; ask the pension administrator first
- Rejoiners do not have to gain the new entry-route qualifications
Forces advertising Rejoiner
Filtered to forces where our last check found this route. Forces whose systems block automated reading won't appear here even if they are recruiting — the full board shows every force with its data source.
63
live vacancies we can read
4
forces with a readable job feed
4
forces confirmed recruiting
Last checked today. We check every force twice a day and show you exactly where each answer came from.
Showing 5 of 43 forces
West Midlands Police
Read from West Midlands Police's own job board, today.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
South Yorkshire Police
Read from South Yorkshire Police's own job board, today.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Cleveland Police
From Cleveland Police's own job board — 4 of 8 shown, checked today.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Leicestershire Police
Read from Leicestershire Police's careers page today. We can see what they mention, not a vacancy list.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Rejoiner questions
Which forces are recruiting Rejoiner in 2026? +
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed 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 as recruiting through rejoiner route for former officers. Routes open and close often, so confirm on the force's own site.
What is Rejoiners (Former Officers)? +
A route back for former officers who completed constable probation and resigned or retired, appointed at a rank the chief officer decides.
Who is Rejoiner for? +
Former officers returning to the same or a different force. There has been no five-year limit since February 2019.
How long does Rejoiner take? +
Probation of 6 months if you rejoin within 12 months at your old rank, otherwise 12 months. Returning at the same or a lower rank, your pay point reflects previous service in that rank (regulation 24).
What do you need to apply for Rejoiner? +
Previous service in which you completed constable probation, ending in resignation or retirement (regulation 10B). Not a transferee, secondee or officer returning from a career break. Fresh vetting and medical; rejoining as a constable also means the national selection stages in regulation 10(1)(eb).
What does Rejoiner pay? +
Rejoiners returning at the same or a lower rank go back onto the scale at a point reflecting previous service in that rank (regulation 24).
Compare the other routes
PCEP
Two years, with a two-year probation
PCDA
Three years, with a three-year probation
DHEP
Two years, with a two-year probation
Detective
Two-year probation, plus the learning needed for PIP 2 accreditation
Transferee
Set by the receiving force; vetting and references are the usual waits
Specials
Ongoing, with a minimum monthly hours commitment set by each force
PCSO
Permanent role, starting with an initial learning programme
Staff
Permanent and fixed-term contracts