Benefits and rewards

Working as a police officer for one of the country’s top-performing police forces, you’ll be able to see the positive impact your hard work is having on making County Durham and Darlington safer for everybody. In addition to the personal satisfaction that you will gain, you will receive a competitive salary as well as a number of other benefits. Here are some of the things a career at Durham Constabulary offers.

Pay

We offer a salary: £29,907 per annum + Shift allowances which will increase on successful completion of your probationary period. Police constables with seven years’ service who have progressed through the salary band each year can expect to earn £48,231

Annual leave

As a fulltime PC at Durham Constabulary, you’ll get 22 days of paid annual holiday which will increase depending on your length of service. This is on top of public holidays and an average of two rest days each week.

Pensions

When you start as a new PC, you'll automatically become a member of the New Police Pension Scheme 2015. This is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme which offers a guaranteed pension with an optional lump sum, based on the earnings you receive during your career.

Both you and Durham Constabulary will contribute and you will receive tax relief on the contributions you make. If you already have a pension, it may be possible to transfer this into the police scheme.

Career opportunities

Policing offers endless career opportunities, and at Durham Constabulary, we will support you to grow and develop throughout your career. You could work with our Roads and Armed Policing Unit as a dog handler or firearms officer, become a cybercrime specialist or find your passion in neighbourhood policing. Maybe you’ll excel financial investigation or bringing perpetrators of domestic abuse to justice. Whatever you decide, your only limit if your ambition.  

Personal support and advice

We pride ourselves on being a caring employer and provide a range of support initiatives to help with both you and your family’s welfare. These include:

Occupational health and welfare (from counselling to financial guidance)

• Wellbeing support
• A subsidised convalescence home
• Training, development and mentoring opportunities
• Membership of the Police Federation
• Sports and social club
• Childcare vouchers, employee assistance programme and lifestyle discounts
• Dedicated staff support associations:
  • Durham Ethnic & Minority Support Association (DEMSA)
  • Star Network - women in policing
  • Durham Chaplaincy Team
  • Disability Support Group Network
  • LGBTQ+ Network
  • Menopause Support Group
  • Durham Autism Association
  • Durham Muslim Association