Opportunities are now live for Dog Handler transferees.
This role is based within the Operations department at Police Headquarters, Weston Road. Successful candidates will be required to work at both Headquarters and Longton Police Station.
Applicants will only be eligible to apply if they have completed their probation including being signed off on their end point assessment.
The role offers a variety of high-profile responsibilities and requires a diverse group of officers to represent the organisation and communities of Staffordshire.
Part of your responsibilities will include having a working dog at your home address (this is 24/7) with a suitable enclosed garden to house a kennel and your dog. You will also need to have a suitable vehicle to transport a dog to and from work. Dog handlers do get extra allowances for looking after their dogs, essential user mileage and funding towards appropriate dog carriage cages / pod for personal vehicles. As part of your role after being a competent GP handler, you may be required to handle a second dog for specialist search such as drugs, firearms and cash.
Being a dog support officer includes support to force priorities by proactively targeting criminality, support to frontline response teams, advance first aid and importantly the core responsibility of being an operational dog handler.
As a dog handler the responsibility will include being part of a disciplined, well-organised team that must be able to respond to a variety of different types of incidents which includes support and working alongside our firearms teams, deploying to a range of threats.
Successful applicants must be available to attend the following assessment days:
The relevant dates are:
9th December 2026– Assessment day (one day assessment to include an exam, NDM scenarios and fitness test)
W/C 15th March 2027 – Course Starts.
Our dog handlers work a 4 on 4 off shift pattern, each shift being 12hrs in duration.
Details around this will follow after the application stage, along with an opportunity to practise / develop with our force fitness advisor.
The closing date for applications is 23rd November 2026 – 12:00hrs
For more information about Staffordshire Police, please click on the link below:
Am I eligible?
To apply as a Transferee as part of Alliance policing you must:
- Be a serving Police Officer in a Home Office Force.
- Have satisfactorily completed the period of probationary service in the rank of constable.
- Have no outstanding discipline or integrity issues.
Onboarding
We aim to make our onboarding process as smooth and straightforward as possible.
- You will be required to complete and pass a role-based interview which will focus on the competencies and values required for the role.
- We would like to know what skills you have to offer so that we can identify the most appropriate posting for you.
- Appointment will be dependent upon successfully passing pre-employment checks, vetting, and medical, which will include a drugs test and a fitness test.
In addition to your salary, you will have access to a range of benefits including:
• Access to health and wellbeing support
• Eye care vouchers
• On site Gyms
• Annual Leave entitlement.
• Pension Scheme
• Sick pay scheme
• Fostering friendly policy
• Family friendly policies – maternity, paternity, parental leave, adoption, disability leave and carers leave
• Reward and Recognition
• Blue light Card
• Lottery
• Free Parking at selected sites
• Onsite Catering facilities
• Federation Support
• Financial Products and services
• Staff Networks to support
• Cycle to work scheme
Closing date for receipt of submitted applications; 23rd November 2026
Q&A event - Transferee - ARVO and Dog Handler Opportunities Q&A - Staffordshire Police
Staffordshire Police is fully supportive of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and strives to employ a workforce that represents the community we serve.
Our vacancies are open to everyone and all appointments are made based on merit. We encourage and welcome applications from all underrepresented groups which include: Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, female, people who have a disability, those who are neurodivergent and persons of the LGBTQ+ community.
We use positive action to encourage potential candidates from underrepresented groups through targeted step-In support and advice sessions. If you have the skills, experience and values, that here in Staffordshire Police we pride ourselves on, then we would welcome you to apply.
There will be Step in support sessions throughout the selection process. The first session will take place on DATE ,For more information on Positive Action please email the team on positive.action@staffordshire.police.uk
Residency Eligibility
Please note you will need to have been a resident in the UK for the last three years consecutively for RV Level roles and five years for MV Level roles (see below link around Vetting for more information)
Please note if you are successful at interview and commence pre-employment checks this will include vetting, please see what this involves and the process via the below link:
Police vetting process | Join The Police (joiningthepolice.co.uk)
We want to continually improve our recruitment processes and to remove any barriers to equal opportunities that could disadvantage those from particular backgrounds. In order for us to have the information to do this, we ask you to please complete the diversity section of the online application process. We use a “blind” shortlisting process and we hope that by using this method we will be able to promote greater diversity in our workforce and remove any subconscious decisions based on biases.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible and we operate the Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
If you need reasonable adjustments to progress your application please contact hrrecruitment.team@staffordshire.police.uk to discuss your needs.
Staffordshire Police aim to ensure a person with a disability has the right to access everyday work spaces and services. Access is not only about a physical means of entry; it is about making services easy to use for everyone.
