It is a requirement for Officers to reside within the Avon and Somerset Force area. If you are relocating from outside of the force area, you may be eligible for a relocation allowance of up to £8000.
If you reside outside of the force area and wish to apply, this would be subject to a special dispensation being granted by Avon and Somerset.
An exciting opportunity has arisen in Avon and Somerset within one of the Operational Support Teams (OST) for an experienced, current serving PC Dog Handler.
The Avon and Somerset dog handling team are one of the most progressive dog sections within the UK and are responsible for delivering specialist operational policing services 24/7 to the communities of Avon and Somerset.
This varied, much sought after role varies on a daily basis. You will be providing first class Police dog policing to the communities of Avon and Somerset with duties including public disorder, searching and tracking to name but a few. This role will help to build on your current skill base getting you right in the centre of the most interesting and crucial situations. You will need to be ready to be deployed to spontaneous incidents, planned operations and other significant events requiring dog policing services anywhere within the OST Force area.
On a day to day basis you will be working as part of a friendly team of 5 Dog handlers reporting to the duty OST Sergeant and Specialist Police Dog Leads in Force all working towards the same common goal of providing first class protective dog services. As part of a larger overall team, you will not only be supported by other dog handlers trained to the highest of standards but also a collaborative team of progressive dog training staff under the leadership of Dog Unit Training Manager and 5 Full time trainers.
Of course, you will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing Police Dog/s in your care doing your best to provide them with an environment in which they are well cared for and given the opportunity in the best possible environment to continue to develop their specialist skills.
This role will provide plenty of opportunities for your future development. As one of the leading Police dog handling units within the UK we provide regular continued professional development opportunity’s and are at the forefront of new specialist capability. This will include the progression in to handling a specialist search dog (Drugs/Explosive/Victim recovery/Digital detection).
This role will require you to live in a home which allows you to keep a working police dog and have the space for a kennel in a secure back garden as the dog will be living with you. You will also need to have a suitable vehicle in which you can transport the dog/s from home to your place of work.
If you have any questions about the role please email:
Inspector Ricki Lippiatt,
[email protected]
PS Samuel Davies,
[email protected]
PS Ben Smith,
[email protected]
No ride along or attachments will be available until the practical assessments of this process have been completed.
Am I eligible?
You must be a current serving a police dog handler.
You must be transferring from a Home Office Force:
have no live written improvement notices issued under the Police (Performance) Regulations 2012 or reduction in rank under those procedures in 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 but where no separate penalty is applied (Regulation 35(1)(b)), does not debar an officer from proceeding)
have no improvement notice/action plan in place, in accordance with the Police Officer Performance and Attendance procedures.
Be an experienced Dog handler within your current force.
What We Offer
Avon and Somerset Constabulary has gained a reputation as a pioneering and innovative force which has led the way on a number of initiatives and gained recognition for our ongoing commitment to support, develop and empower our staff to deliver the best possible service to the public.
We have the potential to offer you a better quality of life coupled with exciting and challenging policing.
Avon and Somerset polices 1,844 square miles of moorland, farmland, coastline, holiday resorts, market towns and cities including Bath and Bristol, one of England’s eight core cities. It is intersected by the M4 and M5, major rail routes to Wales and the Southwest, and home to Bristol International Airport and Bristol Port, Britain’s most centrally located deep sea port. Glastonbury Festival, Europe’s largest music festival, and Badminton Horse Trials are two of the force’s most significant events.
A diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.65 million and approximately 679,000 households, swelled by a large student population and tourists, brings challenges in policing, with pockets of substantial wealth contrasting deprived localities and communities. Ensuring equality of access to policing for all and achieving a diverse and representative workforce are priorities for the force.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary are proud to support a representative workforce. We are neurodiversity and inclusive organisation that welcomes applications from everyone. Our inclusive culture - Avon & Somerset Police
The Recruitment Process
Shortlisting process – review of training records, sickness record and probationary completion from current force and suitability for the role
Interviews will be conducted via Teams
2-day practical assessment, including fitness test
Pre-employment checks.
Should you require any further information regarding this role within the Constabulary, please email
[email protected]
What you need to know
Current Force policy requires officers to live within the Avon and Somerset Constabulary borders and ordinarily within a 20-mile radius of their posting. However, we would strongly recommend that you do not enter into any lease or purchase of property until a posting is confirmed.
Postings are determined based on operational demand and priorities. Individual preferences will be noted, and attempts made to accommodate, depending on available vacancies.
You will ordinarily be expected to remain in your first posting within the Constabulary for a minimum of two years however this would not preclude you applying for promotion should you wish in this timeframe.
Salary and leave
Officers in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary are paid in accordance with the national rates. Salaries are paid directly into officer's bank or building society account on the 28th of each month.
Leave already booked by a successful officer will be honoured for this year, but officers must advise us of these dates in writing when invited to attend for interview.
Any Time off in Lieu must be taken prior to joining Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
Under most circumstances pension rights are directly transferable from one force to another.
If you are not yet ready to transfer or would like more information, please contact
[email protected]
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About us
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Diversity is a strength and individuality is an asset.
We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.
We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country.
Find out more about our benefits and culture
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.
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Important information before you commence an application (for external applicants)
You will require the following detail to complete this application form:
National Insurance Number
Identification Detail e.g. passport
Address information including proof
Referee information
Full employment history including dates and any qualifications you may have attained
Tattoos - you will also be requested to provide photos and describe of any visible tattoos you have
If the role requires you to drive you will also be required to upload details from your full driving licence including photos.
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Important information before you commence an application- for ALL applicants
The application system only remains active on a single page for a period of 60 minutes.
Please ensure you allow time to complete your application fully as part complete pages do not save.
If the role has evidence questions you may wish to save these remotely and paste your answers into the boxes at time of submission.
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