Derbyshire Constabulary has an exciting opportunity for constables, who are existing Authorised Firearms Officers, to transfer to Derbyshire.
About the unit :-
The Armed Response Unit provides the central armed response for the county and niche specialist capability including Tactical Rifle, Close Protection and Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance. It also provides Firearms tactical advice for the force with the Firearms Support Unit.
The Armed Response Unit is an evolving group of professional officers who are highly trained and motivated. The teams have access to the most up-to-date equipment and training to ensure they can carry out their role and receive support and development within the unit. We a modern state-of-the-art firing range which was completed in December 2017.
The unit is currently working a four-on, four-off 12-hour shift pattern.
This is a demanding role that requires the successful candidates to demonstrate:
A proven ability to undertake all duties outlined in the National Authorised Firearms Officer role profile.
Candidates must be able to produce a training record endorsed by their Chief Firearms Instructor.
You must be:-
Substantive in the rank of Constable within a Home Office force.
Be an occupationally and operationally competent Authorised Firearms Officer trained to a minimum AFO role profile as detailed in the NPFTC.
Be able to pass the JRFT to level 9-4 on application.
Be a current police advanced driver or willing to take an advanced driving course.
Be able to evidence occupational and operational competence at interview.
Have no outstanding discipline or integrity issues with current force.
The Recruitment Process
Stage 1: Your application – you will need to provide evidence that demonstrates your competency to be an Authorised firearms officer. Please ensure you review the Competency and Values Framework document before applying.
Stage 2: Interview – this will be with two senior officers who will be assessing you against the personal qualities required for an Armed Response Unit Constable, and also your commitment to Derbyshire Constabulary and the challenges that we face as a County.
Stage 3: Firearms Assessment.
Stage 4: Pre–employment checks – If you are successful at the interview you will be invited in for a medical and fitness test. If you pass both the medical and fitness test we will also carry out vetting checks and contact your current force HR department and line manager for employment references.
Stage 5: Final Offer – If all of the above checks are met satisfactorily, we will write to you offering you a position with Derbyshire Constabulary. Please do not serve your notice to your current force until you have received your final offer letter in writing.
The application form and job description are both available on our E-Recruitment portal, which allows you to track the progress of your application.
Please be aware that where Officers are unable to retain their firearms status, in accordance with the Firearms Training Standard Operating Procedures, they may be permanently removed from the post.
Please be aware that we are not able to accept applications from officers serving in non-Home Office Forces.
The closing date is Sunday 1st February 2026 at 23:55 but may be earlier depending on the number of applications received.
Who we are?
Derbyshire Constabulary has a strong and unequivocal commitment to delivering a high-quality policing service for everyone in the county - whether for our one million residents or our ten million visitors to the Peak District. By joining us you'll play a unique role in helping us to keep Derbyshire as one of the safest places to live and work in England.
To understand how you can make Derbyshire safer together visit our careers website.
We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and encourage anyone who has considered a career in policing to apply. We’re particularly keen to increase the number of females and candidates from black and minority ethnic communities and the LGBT community, so that we can truly reflect the communities that we serve in.
