PSNI Opens Recruitment Campaign With Degree And Salary Offer

The Police Service of Northern Ireland opened a new student officer recruitment campaign on Monday 12 October 2026, offering a £35,000 starting salary and degree opportunity as it seeks to strengthen its workforce across Northern Ireland.

According to the PSNI, successful recruits will receive training and professional development while working toward a criminology and policing degree from Ulster University. The campaign also reopened applications for experienced officers from other police services.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the recruitment drive aims to attract applicants from all backgrounds and build a workforce reflecting the communities served by the PSNI.

"I want the Police Service of Northern Ireland to be representative of the community we serve and to be seen as an employer of choice." said Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable.

Boutcher said policing offers opportunities to work with communities throughout Northern Ireland. He also highlighted the public service role of police officers.

"Policing is more than a job, it is a chance to work along with all communities throughout Northern Ireland and make a meaningful difference every single day." said Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable.

The PSNI chief constable continued his appeal for recruits by describing police work as a vocational role focused on public service.

"This is not merely a job, it’s vocational, being a police officer is the finest public service a person can do." said Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable.

The Transferee Scheme also reopened, allowing serving officers from other police services to apply. Boutcher specifically addressed officers who joined elsewhere while PSNI recruitment was suspended.

"Many people applied to become police officers elsewhere because we had stopped recruitment, to those officers in other police services, I say it is time to come home." said Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable.

The campaign includes future recruitment rounds for call handlers on 19 October 2026 and administrative support officers on 9 November 2026. The PSNI will run outreach activities alongside a seven-week advertising campaign.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said the Department of Justice worked with the PSNI on a workforce recovery plan aimed at addressing police staffing levels.

"Each and every day, PSNI officers make a positive difference to the lives of people across Northern Ireland; whether it be working with the community to build trust and confidence in policing and keeping people safe, preventing and investigating crime, responding to emergencies or providing reassurance and advice to victims of crime." said Naomi Long, Justice Minister.

Long said maintaining adequate police numbers remained a priority and supported the launch of the recruitment campaign.

"The Department of Justice has worked closely with the PSNI to develop a workforce recovery plan, so I welcome the launch of this recruitment campaign and urge anyone who is considering a career in policing to apply." said Naomi Long, Justice Minister.

Northern Ireland Policing Board Chair Brendan Mullan supported the campaign, emphasizing the importance of attracting recruits from different backgrounds.

"The Policing Board encourages and supports people from all walks of life and backgrounds to apply as we know how important it is for policing to be fully reflective and representative of the diversity of the community it serves." said Brendan Mullan, Northern Ireland Policing Board Chair.