Bing.lau

A lot of the lads I knew were ex-military but recruiting has been so drastically cut those opportunities are now being taken, mostly, by the aforementioned PCSO/Specials. I understand Aussie bobbies are particularly well paid.

Aussie bobby pay

Roughly £400 per week less tax insurance etc.I take it most of them will still stay at home as they probably could not afford to buy a house on those wages.

Pity help them if they stay in London a wage like that would be useless.

Jock1e

In London a Police officer is paid at the rate of £28,605 on entering service. That rises to £31,176 on completion of initial 31 weeks' training, and rises again to £32,610 after two years' probationer training.

They get between 22 and 30 days paid annual holiday, depending on length of service,and an average of two rest days a week.

Police officers travel free of charge on London Transport, both on and off duty, and can join a rail travel scheme which allows them to travel on National Rail services within an agreed area for a small monthly cost.

They are also eligible for an equity loan of up to £50,000 towards the cost of buying a property, and have 'Key worker' status with shared ownership housing schemes.

Police officers also benefit from all kinds of discount deals with High street retail chains, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, flights and holidays.

All in all it's not such a terrible package.

oresome

It's a salary-related pension. A calculation is based on the number of pensionable years and the average pensionable pay.

An officer who retires after 25 years with an average pensionable pay of £30,000 would get a pension of £15,000,paid for life and index linked after the first year.