Substantive Police Constable - Dog Handler – Transferee Opportunity
Are you a highly motivated, experienced and proactive dog handler wanting to join a dedicated team of like-minded people.
Successful candidates will be required to undergo an assessment process and interview held within force.
About Us
Our department is committed and proud to provide a high-quality service to the communities we serve and the officers we assist. We are based at our forces HQ site at Arnold in Nottingham and all operational duties and training are carried out from there.
If you have any questions about the role, please do not hesitate contact Sergeant Nick Dachtler, Police Dog Training Manager – [email protected]
The Role
As a Police Constable – Dog Handler, you will work as part of a highly skilled Dog Section deploying with a trained police dog to provide specialist operational support. You will respond to high‑risk incidents, assist with the protection of officers and the public, search for people, property and substances, and support the detention of offenders across the county.
You will be personally responsible for the care, welfare, training and operational readiness of your police dog, maintaining professional standards in line with national policy and force expectations.
Working Pattern
The successful candidate will work a 24/7 rotating shift pattern (2x2x2), including nights, weekends and public holidays. Flexibility is essential due to:
- Spontaneous and tasked operational demand
- Mutual aid commitments
- Training and assessment requirements
The role is physically demanding and requires regular training activity
Key Responsibilities
- Under supervision but operating independently, to be responsible for the protection of life and property, the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order through a range of sworn powers in line with organisational standards.
- Responding to calls for assistance particularly in the areas of support and protection for other officers, searching for persons and property and the detention of offenders.
- Provision of specialist help and support by handling a specialist search dog when required.
- Provision of specialist help and support by handling a PSU trained dog.
- If suitable to become one of the forces Firearms Support Dog team.
- Ensuring the health and welfare and training of dogs charged to the officers’ care.
- To train dogs in accordance with the respective NCTAS Modules. Take responsibility for ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in line with College of Policing APP and NCTAS requirements.
- To assist in the safe seizure of Banned and or Dangerous Dogs as per Nottinghamshire Police Policy. DLO is a separate role undertaken within the department.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be transferring from a Home Office Police Force.
- Be an accredited NPCC Accredited General Purpose Police Dog Handler.
- Advanced Level Police Driver and IPP.
- STO Taser Officer.
- Have no live written improvement notices issued under the Police (Performance) Regulations 2012, nor any reduction in rank issued under those procedures within the previous 18 months.
- Have no live written warning, final written warning or extended final written warning issued under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012
(note: a finding of misconduct where no separate penalty is applied under Regulation 35(1)(b) does not bar application).
- Have no current improvement notice or action plan in place in line with Police Officer Performance and Attendance procedures.
- Have proven experience as an operational police dog handler, having handled operational General Purpose Police Dogs.
- Demonstrate effective IT skills.
- Be capable of passing the JRFT to the required standard – 6.3 Public Order.
- Must be able to carry dogs in supplied dog crates to and from the unit in their own car. (allowances awarded as per Notts policies.)
- To be able to securely house a double police dog kennel at your home address.
Desirable Criteria
- K9 First Aid qualification.
- Experience in specialist operational roles
- Have experience handling Detection Dogs.
Application Process
- Completed via the Nottinghamshire Police website portal.
- Provide evidence of your last three operational dog deployments and last operational police dog bite.
- Assessment day and Interview during the week 21st – 25th September 2026 at Nottinghamshire Police Headquarters.
What We Offer
- Specialist role within a highly respected Dog Unit
- Dog Handler allowance (subject to eligibility)
- Dedicated police dog(s) and appropriate operational equipment
- In house NPCC accredited police dog training in a safe learning environment.
- Opportunities for specialist pathways and future development, including instructor roles.
- An Essential User Allowance is provided; post holders must ensure their personal vehicle is suitable for the transportation of Police Dogs (PDs) and/or Training Police Dogs (TPDs) if required. Vehicle crate/ cage/ box, will be provided.
- Vetting clearance is required, in line with guidance provided by the Vetting Unit.
- Home dog kennel.
