Vacancy Reference Number
21842
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Number of Vacancies
1
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(B) OCU
SW - South West Command Unit
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Location
Kingston
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Band
Band D
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Part/Full Time
Full Time
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Hours per Week
36 hours per week
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Type of Contract
Permanent
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Job Advert
Job Title: Local Communications Officer – South West London
Salary: The starting salary is £40,519, which includes allowances totalling £3,009
The salary is broken down as £37,510 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £40,141 Plus, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth
Job Criteria:
Do you have the ambition to be at the heart of the largest police force in the country, telling the stories that matter most to local communities? We are looking for creative, first-class communicators who want to take their career to the next level as part of a significant expansion in how we tell our story to those who matter most.
We are recruiting for a Local Communication Officer who will be responsible for getting under the skin of our frontline policing operations, understanding how our work in every borough is different and telling the story of what we are doing to keep people safe in a way that is targeted and easy to understand.
This is not like other communication roles. One day you may be working up campaign strategies alongside local stakeholders on how we are using the latest technology to tackle crime. The next you may be at the forefront of handling communications around a critical incident. Or the next day you will be working behind the scenes with officers to bring to life the extraordinary stories that go on every day in the Met.
One of your key tasks will be utilising and maximising the potential for our brand new communication platform, Met Engage, and how you will be able to use it to its full potential to deliver meaningful change.
This is a multi-disciplinary role, and a good next step for someone who has had around two years of communications experience. Your proofreading and copywriting skills must be excellent, with a strong understanding of digital and online communication tools. At the same time you will be expected to create, deliver and evaluate communication campaigns, so experience in these disciplines is also a necessity.
While we are looking for individuals who have determination and drive to push things forwards, you will work alongside your peers in the Frontline Communication Network and be able to rely on the support, guidance and training from an award-winning Communication & Engagement team.
If you’re a great team player, capable of devising and delivering multi-faceted media strategies that shape public perception and shine a light on the Met’s work, we want to hear from you.
About you:
You are a communications specialist who is keen and eager to innovate. You can quickly assess a dry technical briefing and find the salient point that matters most, or you can dig out a good news story from teams who see the extraordinary as just another Tuesday.
You must be a strategic thinker who can identify how the work you deliver on is working against the wider news cycle and social or political situations and be able to adjust accordingly.
What you’ll get:
In addition to a competitive starting salary plus an allowance, you’ll be part of a team that has a tangible impact on public safety. You’ll work in one of the most exciting media environments in the UK, with opportunities for growth, learning, and progression as part of the Met’s communications transformation.
Ready to make a difference?
This is your chance to be part of something bigger. If you’re passionate about media, love a challenge, and want to play a key role in shaping the future of policing communications, apply now.
Join the Met and help us keep London safe.
Work Pattern
The standard working pattern will be 36 hours a week, Monday to Friday. The purpose of this role is to promote the work of frontline police officers, which may require early and late starts to fall alongside operational activity. Any requirement to do this will be detailed in advance and will carry overtime and/or unsociable hours payments.
Additional Information
We are recruiting for six Local Communications Officers, each covering their own area of London. If several candidates meet our criteria for this post, we will keep a reserve list and make offers for any remaining unfilled positions.
How to apply
To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply button “. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and Personal Statement.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 29th July 2026.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager.
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview.
www.metpolicecareers.co.uk
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Essential For The Role
Key skills we’re looking for:
An understanding of the context in which the Metropolitan Police operates, and the key opportunities and challenges around building trust and confidence amongst local communities.
An excellent grasp of spelling, punctuation, and grammar, with strong proofreading abilities.
Comprehensive knowledge of the social media landscape, and how to harness different elements to have the largest impact.
An effective understanding of campaign management and delivery cycle, including the importance of audience insight, research and evaluation.
Excellent written and spoken communication skills, being capable of translating complicated and technical briefings into clear, accurate and effective messaging, tailored to target audiences.
Ability to communicate with clarity and professionalism with all stakeholder levels, both internally and externally, in both written and verbal formats.
Ability to work flexibly in a fast paced environment, working effectively in the face of changing requirements and multiple priorities, while delivering to tight deadlines.
Must hold GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English.
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Required Languages
English
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Additional Information
CVF Staff Band.pdf – 971KB Opens in a new window
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Disability Confident Statement
The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.
As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.
The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you need any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.
Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.
Read our full disability confidence statement.
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