Which Force Actually Fits You?
43 forces, real pay data behind every one. Take the quiz for a quick match, or compare any of them side by side yourself.
Take The Quiz
Question 1 of 4
Which nation do you want to serve in?
Or Compare Forces Yourself
Pick up to 4 forces and see real Constable pay, allowances and take-home side by side.
| Force | the Met | West Midlands |
|---|---|---|
| Region | London | West Midlands |
| HQ | London | Birmingham |
| Constable Starting Pay | £42,331 | £33,969 |
| Constable Top Pay | £60,377 | £52,015 |
| Est. Net Monthly (Start) | £2,454 | £2,027 |
| Regional Allowances | London Weighting (£3,024), London Allowance (£5,338) | None — national scale |
| Major Towns Covered | Westminster, Croydon, Ealing | Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton |
A Note On What "Best" Means Here
This tool compares what we can actually verify — pay, allowances and region — because those are knowable facts, not opinions. It doesn't score forces on culture, response times, or promotion speed, because we don't have honest data on those and won't pretend to. Use it to shortlist, then do the human research (force open days, serving officers you know, force-specific pages) before you commit.
See The Full Number For Any Force
Model take-home pay, allowances, part-time and overtime for any of the 43 forces in the free Salary Calculator.
Open Salary Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK police force pays the most?
The Metropolitan Police and City of London Police pay the most for a starting Constable once London Weighting and Met allowances are added, followed by the eight forces receiving the South East Allowance. Every other force pays the same national base scale.
How many police forces are there in England and Wales?
There are 43 territorial police forces across England and Wales, each covering its own policing area with its own recruitment process.
Does a higher-paying force always mean a better deal?
Not necessarily. London Weighting and South East allowances exist to offset a materially higher cost of living, so a higher headline salary in those forces doesn't automatically translate into more disposable income than a lower-paying force in a cheaper region.