Police sergeant salary 2026/27

What a police sergeant does

Sergeants are the first line of management in policing. You lead a team of constables on a response shift, in a neighbourhood team, in custody or in an investigation unit, while still going out to serious incidents yourself.

Typical duties

• Briefing your team at the start of each shift and deciding who goes where.
• Taking charge at incidents until an inspector arrives.
• Checking constables’ arrests, case files and use of force.
• In custody, acting as custody sergeant and deciding whether people can be detained.
• Managing your team’s welfare, performance, leave and training.

How promotion works

Most forces use the national police promotion framework:

1. Show you are competent as a constable, after probation.
2. Pass the sergeants’ legal exam, sat online twice a year.
3. Pass your force’s selection process, often an application and interview.
4. Serve 12 months as a temporary sergeant on a work-based assessment before you are confirmed in rank.

The College of Policing is testing a new process in some forces, so check what your force uses.

Is it worth it?

As shown above, the step up from the top of the constable scale is small after tax. Sergeants still get overtime, so the gap can be bigger in practice. Most go for it for the role itself and because it is the route to inspector.