Police Pay

Police Staff
Pay, Pension & Careers

For the civilian employees of UK police forces — not officers. Different pay body, different pension, different employment rights. Content built to reflect that, not to reuse officer content with the serial numbers filed off.

The one distinction that matters

Police officers are Crown office-holders, governed by Police Regulations — no employment contract, no right to strike, no redundancy. Police staff (including PCSOs) are ordinary employees, with a contract, full employment rights, and union representation through UNISON, Unite and GMB. That single fact is why pay, pensions, overtime and redundancy all work completely differently for the two groups.

Open the free Police Staff salary calculator

2026 Pay Rise

Nothing agreed yet
Updated 29 Sept

2026 Pay Rise Tracker →

Every step of the 2026 talks, dated and sourced, next to last year's timeline — and what's still missing.

 Free tool

Pay Rise Calculator →

Type your salary: what 3.5%, 4.2% or the unions' 9% / £2,700 would be worth to you, plus back pay.

 Free tool

Staff to Police Officer Calculator →

PCSO or police staff now: your take-home and LGPS pension against a new constable's, year by year up the scale.

 Guide

Back Pay Explained →

How arrears work when a settlement lands late, when they arrive, and why they look smaller than expected.

 Guide

UNISON, GMB & Unite →

Who negotiates for you, how a pay ballot works, and what happened in last year's round.

Staff pay alert

Police staff pay rise: get told when it is agreed

Leave your email and we will tell you when the 2026 police staff pay award is agreed and paid, and what it means for your pay band and any back pay. Occasional emails, written by hand. Unsubscribe any time.

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Foundations

Police Staff vs Police Officer: Key Differences →

Employment status, pay-setting, pension, strike rights, redundancy — the single distinction (employee vs Crown office-holder) that explains nearly all of it.

LGPS Pension Explained →

Police staff are on the Local Government Pension Scheme, not the Police Pension Scheme. What that actually means for your retirement.

Police Staff Pay & Grading Explained →

Why there's no single national pay table like officers have, how the Police Staff Council award works, and how to find your own number.

2026 Police Staff Pay Rise →

The separate Police Staff Council claim, the Point 24 overtime bar, and when a settlement actually reaches your payslip.

PCSO Cluster

Police Community Support Officer
PCSO Pay & Salary Explained → PCSO Role & Powers Explained → How to Become a PCSO → PCSO Interview Questions and Answers → PCSO Situational Judgement Test and Sift → PCSO Pension Explained → PCSO to Police Officer: The Transfer Pathway → PCSO to Police Officer Pay Calculator →

Redundancy

Genuine law — unlike officers
Police Staff Redundancy Rights Explained → Redundancy Pay Explained (incl. the £30,000 tax-free rule) → TUPE, Force Mergers & Outsourcing → Voluntary vs Compulsory Redundancy →

Recruitment & Interviews

Getting the job
Police Staff Recruitment Hub → How to Become a 999 Call Handler → Police Staff Interview Questions → 999 Call Handler Interview Questions → Police Staff Investigator Interview → Detention Officer Recruitment → Crime Scene Investigator Recruitment → Intelligence Analyst Recruitment → Free 999 Call Handler Typing Test →

Pay & Career by Role

Control Room / 999 & 101 Call Handler → Custody Detention Officer → Scenes of Crime Officer (CSI) → Financial Investigator → Intelligence Analyst → Firearms Licensing Officer → HR & Business Support → Designated Detention / Escort Officer →

Also on PolicePay

Warranted officers Officers Hub → Investigation route Civilian Investigator Explained → Real reviews Force Reviews →

Latest police staff news

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