Retire & Re-join - Police Officer

West Midlands Police are pleased to offer all Home Office Officers that have served 30 years, the opportunity to Retire and Rejoin via the 30+ Scheme. The scheme allows eligible police officers to retire and return to policing as a warranted officer, after a minimum of a 31-day break in service. Officers who retire and then re-join are eligible to take their lump-sum and draw their pension until the point that they return. The scheme allows officers to Rejoin and contribute to the 2015 scheme if they so wish.

West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.

Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.

WMP is committed to supporting all colleagues with continuous professional development, great staff offers, associations and social clubs, wellbeing support, and a comprehensive development programme across the force.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Officers can return at the same rank or a lower rank. The Chief Constable is not currently considering any returners at the rank of Chief Inspector and above. However, if you are currently ranked at Chief Inspector or above, you are able to return at the rank of Inspector or below.
• Officers must have skills and experience that the organisation wishes to recruit/retain
• If an officer/ex officer is currently under investigation, the investigation needs to conclude with a no sanction outcome before the officer/ex officer is able to submit an application.
• Officers who have been ill-health retired are not eligible for this scheme
• Officers must have served in a Home Office force or BTP to be eligible for this scheme

Process:
Before applying, please ensure you have notified the Pensions Team of your intention to retire and the date of your retirement.

• Stage 1: Candidates will apply via this advert. You will be required to provide the date of your retirement and the day you are intending to return.
• Stage 2: Once your application is checked by our Transferee Team, a request will be sent to your SLT and HR Manager to provide disclose details on Performance, recommendation on remaining in current post & attendance.
• Stage 3: You will be invited to complete a 1:1 career discussion with Chief Inspector within People Services.
• Stage 4: Onboarding – Candidates will be required to complete Vetting & Medical Checks, Fitness & Biometrics Tests.
• Stage 5: Candidates will receive a new Collar Number and Warrant card.

Additional Information:

• Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully passing vetting, Occupational Health and fitness tests within 3 months of application, which may include a drugs test.
• Candidate sifting is based on organisational needs. Considerations on an individual’s skillset and experiences will occur. WMP reserve the right to decline candidates based on operational need.
• Postings are based on business needs and consideration will be given against individual skills and experiences.

Benefits:

• Extensive benefits, including pension scheme, employee support, staff networks, and professional development opportunities. See our benefits website for more details
• A career that matters, make a lasting impact on communities while developing your skills and future.

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions.  As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.
"Diversity and Inclusion Vision:  Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities"

About Us

West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in England, serving more than 2.9 million people across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall. Every day, our people work together to keep our communities safe, protect vulnerable people, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.

We answer more than 2,000 emergency calls every day and provide policing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting victims, investigating crime or working behind the scenes, every role plays a vital part in delivering an outstanding service to the public.

We're proud of the progress we've made in reducing crime, improving emergency response times and increasing arrest rates. These achievements are only possible because of the dedication, professionalism and expertise of our officers, staff and volunteers. As we continue to transform the way we police, we're looking for talented people who are committed to making a real difference.

Why Join West Midlands Police?

A career with West Midlands Police is about more than a job, it's an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people. Whatever your role, you'll contribute to keeping our communities safe while developing your own skills and career.

When you join us, you'll benefit from:

• Meaningful work that makes a difference every day.
• A diverse range of career opportunities across policing and professional support services.
• High-quality training, development and opportunities to progress.
• A supportive and inclusive working environment where everyone is encouraged to achieve their potential.
• Competitive pay, generous annual leave, excellent pension arrangements and a wide range of employee benefits.
• The opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share a common purpose.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better understand and serve the communities we protect. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the Government's Disability Confident scheme, we are committed to removing barriers to employment and supporting disabled applicants and employees throughout their careers. Through our Disability Confident Interview Scheme, applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for a role will normally be offered an interview, subject to the scheme's terms and any recruitment constraints.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Vision is to maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness, respect and inclusion, enabling us to deliver the best possible service to our communities.

Professional Standards

Working in policing is a position of trust. Our officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability. Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate vetting and are expected to uphold the ethical standards and responsibilities that come with serving the public.

Recruitment and the Use of AI

We recognise that many candidates use AI tools to support activities such as proofreading and improving the presentation of written applications. This is acceptable, provided the content you submit accurately reflects your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applications must be your own work. Any evidence of plagiarism, false or misleading information, or the inappropriate use of AI during assessments or selection activities where it is not permitted may result in your application being rejected.

Benefits

We know that supporting our people is essential to delivering the best service to our communities. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of employee benefits, wellbeing support and development opportunities to help you thrive throughout your career.

Visit our Benefits page to find out more about the rewards and support available when you join West Midlands Police.