Police Constable Dog Handler Transferee

Almondsbury, Road Policing Unit
-BS32 4AG
, Bridgwater Police Centre- TA6 4RR

Rank Constable

Grade/scale PC

Please note, if this is a paid role and the role is part time then the salary quoted will be pro rata based on the hours worked per annum.

40

Competency and value framework (CVF) level? 1

31/12/2026, 23:55

An exciting opportunity has arisen in Avon and Somerset within one of the Operational Support Teams (OST) for an
experienced, current serving PC Dog Handler.

The Avon and Somerset dog handling team are one of the most progressive dog sections within the UK and are responsible for delivering specialist operational policing services 24/7 to the communities of Avon and Somerset.

This varied, much sought after role varies on a daily basis. You will be providing first class Police dog policing to the communities of Avon and Somerset with duties including public disorder, searching and tracking to name but a few. This role will help to build on your current skill base getting you right in the centre of the most interesting and crucial situations.

You will need to be ready to be deployed to spontaneous incidents, planned operations and other significant events requiring dog policing services anywhere within the OST Force area.

On a day to day basis you will be working as part of a friendly team of 5 Dog handlers reporting to the duty OST Sergeant and Specialist Police Dog Leads in Force all working towards the same common goal of providing first class protective dog services. As part of a larger overall team, you will not only be supported by other dog handlers trained to the highest of standards but also a collaborative team of progressive dog training staff under the leadership of Dog Unit Training Manager and 5 Full time trainers.

Of course, you will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing Police Dog/s in your care doing your best to provide them with an environment in which they are well cared for and given the opportunity in the best possible environment to continue to develop their specialist skills.

This role will provide plenty of opportunities for your future development. As one of the leading Police dog handling units within the UK we provide regular continued professional development opportunity’s and are at the forefront of new specialist capability. This will include the progression in to handling a specialist search dog (Drugs/Explosive/Victim recovery/Digital detection).

This role will require you to live in a home which allows you to keep a working police dog and have the space for a kennel in a secure back garden as the dog will be living with you. You will also need to have a suitable vehicle in which you can transport the dog/s from home to your place of work.

If you have any questions about the role please email:

Inspector Ricki Lippiatt, Ricki.

Lippia

PS Samuel Davies, Samuel.

Davi

PS Ben Smith, Ben.

Smi

No ride along or attachments will be available until the practical assessments of this process have been completed.

You must be a current serving a police dog handler.

You must be transferring from a Home Office Force:

• have no live written improvement notices issued under the Police (Performance) Regulations 2012 or reduction in rank under those procedures in the previous 18 months
• have no live written warning, final written warning or extended final written warning issued under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012; (note – a…