Transferees & Re-joiners
Officers choose to transfer to Thames Valley Police (TVP) or re-join policing with our force for a variety of reasons; for some it’s our reputation as a forward-thinking and well-organised force; for others it’s the opportunity for promotion or specialism.
Given our vast rural and urban areas, sometimes it’s the greater variety of jobs available at certain ranks and often we’re just a shorter commute!
Whatever your reason, the knowledge, skills and experience you bring will be warmly welcomed into the TVP family from day one.
Could you transfer to or re-join TVP?
We want to empower you with all the information you need on your journey to transferring to or re-joining TVP, and to this end, we encourage you to read some of the information presented in the sections below.
From learning what we can offer you if you choose to continue your policing career with us, the recruitment process explained, to the way we value difference in our workforce, we hope you will find all you need to take the next step and join our team.
We believe it’s important that our officers are supported to be the best they can be. Whether that’s through additional learning, support when things get tough or through discounts to enjoy with family and friends away from the workplace – your wellbeing will always be a priority.
Here are some of the reasons you should join the TVP family:
- A South East Housing Allowance of £3000 on top of national pay scales.
- A wide range of discounts for retailers, restaurants, travel, tickets and more available via our TVP Reward mobile benefits app plus eligibility for Blue Light Card membership.
- Wide ranging career prospects including opportunities for specialisation including: Public Order, Taser, Detectives, Major Crime, Digital Investigation, Counter Terrorism, Firearms and Roads Policing.
- Annual PC to Sergeant and Sergeant to Inspector promotion boards which are advertised on TVP’s Internal Job Shop. Potential applicants can receive updates when applications open by registering their interest via the ‘speculative applications’ tab on the Vacancies portal.
- A focus on your continuous professional development which includes a structured Performance Development Review.
- Our ‘Support for Study’ scheme ensures you have the opportunity to gain additional accreditation and qualifications.
- A well-established Wellbeing function ensures you receive the support you need when you need it, including support for your Mental & Physical Wellbeing, Financial Wellbeing, Leadership Wellbeing and Health & Safety at work.
- A wealth of support services are available through membership of the Police Federation.
- A variety of Peer Support, Staff Support Networks and Buddy Groups including: Support Association for Minority Ethnic Staff, Disability Support Network, Women’s Network, Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association, Muslim Police Association, Christian Police Association and Men’s Forum.
- If you are re-joining the police service, you will re-join us on the same salary pay point and A/L allowance that you were on when you left your previous Home Office force. Refer to current pay scales – Constable’s Pay document
Find out more about how we could be supporting you and how we value difference at TVP.
To apply to join Thames Valley Police as a Transferee you will need to meet our eligibility criteria:
- Have completed your probation period and be confirmed in post by formal offer of appointment.
- Have passed the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP), Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP), Police Constable – Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) or other versions of Initial Training Courses.
- Live within 30 crow miles, 40 road miles and a 1-hour commute of two of our main police stations by formal offer of appointment.
- Have no live complaints pending against you.
- Hold a full valid manual UK driver’s licence.
- For Officers transferring in from a non-home office force as a T/DC, you will need have obtained PIP1 as a minimum. If you do not hold this, please contact the Transferee recruitment team Transferee@thamesvalley.police.uk so they can arrange a full Training Needs Analysis.
To apply to re-join Thames Valley Police you will need to meet our eligibility criteria:
- Have previously completed your probationary period and have been confirmed as a substantive at the rank you are applying to re-join.
- Live within 30 crow miles, 40 road miles and a 1-hour commute of two of our main police stations by formal offer of appointment.
- Hold a full valid UK driver’s licence.
- There are potential changes in transferring from British Transport Police (BTP) and Ministry of Defence Police. Please email your interest and you will be added to a list and note that there is no timeframe outlined as of yet
We want to provide you with a realistic overview of the steps involved. Once you start your application, our recruitment team will support you every step of the way, and they are always available to answer your questions. You can contact them at Transferees@thamesvalley.police.uk
Application process explained:
Typically, the process from initial application through to start date can take six to nine months and includes:
- Step 1: Application, including proof of eligibility – we advise using a PC or laptop as it can be difficult to load on a mobile phone; if you do not have the requested documents to hand, then they can be supplied separately at a later date
- Step 2: Eligibility check
- Step 3: Competency based interview (which includes scenario based questions to test your operational knowledge)
- Step 4: Provisional offer
- Step 5: Pre-employment checks including vetting (including biometrics), fitness test, medical, and references.
- Step 6: Formal offer
- Step 7: Start date
As a new member of our force, we want to ensure you get all the necessary training you need to hit the ground running from your first day in your station. Please see below the training we provide for both transferees and re-joiners.
Training for Transferees
- All Home Office transferees must attend an initial two-week induction course at our Police Training Centre in Sulhamstead near Reading. This is a local procedures course including Personal Safety Training, ELS, and familiarisation with the TVP NICHE system including electronic case files. During the course you will also be issued with uniform and IT (Information Technology) equipment.
- You will then receive 5 weeks of tutoring/shadowing on LPA/OCU to consolidate your training.
If you are transferring from a non-Home Office Force, you will be required to attend a seven-week version of this induction course. You will then receive 10 weeks of tutoring/shadowing on LPA/OCU to consolidate your training. - Accommodation is available for those who live outside of travelling distance.
Training for Re-joiners
- All Home Office re-joiners who left less than 3 years ago must attend an initial two-week induction course at our Police Training Centre in Sulhamstead near Reading. This is a local procedures course including Personal Safety Training, ELS, and familiarisation with the TVP NICHE system including electronic case files. During the course you will also be issued with uniform and IT (Information Technology) equipment.
- You will then receive 5 weeks of tutoring/shadowing on LPA/OCU to consolidate your training.
- If you are re-joining and left policing more than 3 years ago, you will be required to attend a seven-week version of this induction course. You will then receive 10 weeks of tutoring/shadowing on LPA/OCU to consolidate your training.
- Officers who are re-joining after more than 5 years may be required to start a new Police Officer entry route. Our recruitment team can support if this is the case.
- You will be subject to a probationary period, the duration of which will be confirmed during recruitment process, as per the Determinations of the Secretary of State Under Police Regulations 2003 Annex C.
- Accommodation is available for those who live outside of travelling distance.
Hundreds of our officers have joined us from other forces, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge with them from a variety of roles and specialisms. As a force we are proud to have a support network for transferring officers, to ensure a smooth transition in what can be quite a demanding time personally and professionally.
TVP’s Transferees Support Group aims to provide support to all police officers who have recently transferred to TVP, ensuring they get the best possible start with us, as well as providing a knowledge-base to tap in to and improving the transferee experience. If you are transferring to TVP, please ask our recruitment team to put you in contact with the group upon you joining our force.
At Thames Valley Police, we are committed to better reflect the communities that we serve.
We encourage applications from our underrepresented communities including all ethnic or religious backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and women.
Our Positive Action and Engagement Team provide support and guidance to anyone from an ethnically diverse background throughout the police officer recruitment process as well as advise on career development and progression. They can be contacted via: positiveactionteam@thamesvalley.police.uk
Learn more about the team and the support they can provide you to start your career in policing.
Opportunities available now at TVP
Throughout your career with TVP, you’ll receive support and ongoing training to make sure you have everything you need to carry out your duties competently and confidently.
Most importantly, the opportunities to progress and develop as part of TVP are nearly endless. From progressing through the ranks, or taking on a specialism, you can expand your policing career based on your skills and interests – your career is yours to tailor, and TVP will be there to help you along the way.
If you are interested in any of the opportunities below, please apply using our apply buttons, or reach out to our recruitment team if you have any questions:
Looking for a specific role?
If you are looking for a specific role that isn’t currently available in our force, we highly encourage you to register your interest with our recruitment team at transferees@thamesvalley.police.uk. Roles come up depending on resources and demand, so we might be able to welcome you to our team sooner than you think.
Below are some opportunities that come up frequently at TVP for which you can register your interest:
Transfer on promotion
At present, our promotions processes are not open for external candidates.
However, we would be able to accept an application from you at your substantive rank and you could then apply for our internal promotions processes, which run twice a year.
If, however, you would like to wait and transfer on promotion, please register your interest using the links below:
Specialist roles
We welcome expressions of interest for specialist roles, for example in departments such as Contact Management, Neighbourhood Policing, Dog Unit, Roads Policing.
Please email our recruitment team to register your interest for such roles at transferees@thamesvalley.police.uk
As soon as an opportunity arises, we will be in touch.
Non-Home Office Officers
We welcome expressions of interest from officers who are currently serving within the below forces:
- Ministry of Defence Police
- British Transport Police
- Channel Isles Police Services
- Isle of Man Police Service
Due to the vast difference in initial training, you will be required to attend a 7-week induction course prior to being posted to Incident & Crime Response.
Please email our recruitment team to register your interest at transferees@thamesvalley.police.uk
As soon as an opportunity arises, we will be in touch.
Meet our Transferees and Re-joiners
Read the inspiring stories of our colleagues and why they decided to join our team.
Contact us
Our recruitment team is available to support you every step of the way and answer your questions. You can contact them at Transferees@thamesvalley.police.uk
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