The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched a fresh recruitment campaign for student officers on Monday 12 October 2026, timed to coincide with the organisation's 25th anniversary.

Over the next seven weeks, a broad advertising effort spanning broadcast, print, social and digital channels will promote policing as a career and encourage applicants from every community to help build a safer, more connected Northern Ireland.

Launching the initiative, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "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.

"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.

"This is not merely a job, it's vocational, being a police officer is the finest public service a person can do.

"New recruits will receive comprehensive training, and ongoing professional development, with a competitive starting salary of £35k. They will also have the opportunity to achieve a degree in criminology and policing from Ulster University – so they can earn while they learn.

"I am pleased to say that today as part of the student officer recruitment campaign we are also opening our Transferee Scheme. This means that we are welcoming serving officers with policing skills and experience to apply to transfer directly to PSNI. 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.

"There is no other job like policing, no two days will ever be the same and we want people from all walks of life and background to join us.

"Our application process for Call Handlers will also be opening on Monday 19th October with Administrative Support Officer's recruitment opening on Monday 9th November. Our Administrative Support Officers are at the forefront of delivering essential administrative support services to support operational policing in a range of locations across Northern Ireland. "We'll be undertaking a range of outreach and engagement activities in the coming weeks to encourage people from all communities, to apply for a career in policing."

Mr Boutcher added: "If you have integrity, compassion, and a willingness to learn, and if you want to make positive change for your community, apply to join the Police Service".

Welcoming the launch, Justice Minister Naomi Long said: "A job as a police officer is challenging, but it is also varied and hugely rewarding.

"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.

"Ensuring there are adequate police numbers is one of my key priorities. 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."

Northern Ireland Policing Board Chair Brendan Mullan added his support, saying: "Policing offers an attractive and rewarding career choice with opportunities for ongoing professional qualifications, training and development, as well as promotion and progression. It is a career where your work will make a real difference to the safety of our community, and one where no two days will ever be the same.

"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. And we ask people right across the community and civic life to give similar support and encouragement to this campaign and policing as a career of choice."

Further details, including each step of the application process and officer testimonials, are available at www.joinpsni.co.uk/police-officer.