Dorset Police - Strength and Recruitment

Strength and Recruitment

Dorset Police employs over 2,600 people: 1518 Constables and 151 PCSO's. Dorset Police also has 295 Special Constables and an unknown number of Police Support Volunteer.

Due to budget cuts Dorset Police is not currently looking to recruit for any positions unless they are urgent. However positions for voluntary roles are available.

Training for new recruits in Dorset is held at the Headquarters in Winfrith. For Constables it consists of eight months' training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSOs it consists of 18 weeks' training and a 15 week probationary period. For Special Constables it consists of a similar but shorter programme of training during weeknights and weekends, accompanied by a two-year probationary period or less, dependent on the hours they can commit a month.

Recruits receive their warrant card and uniform during training. Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.