Transferee profiles
We’re looking for officers to transfer to Essex Police to help us in our fight against crime.
We are currently offering a range of transferee opportunities for detectives, firearms officers and uniformed officers.
Read profiles from officers who have transferred to us:
Every challenge under the Essex sun from seaside to airside
Our Chief thought he’d reached the peak of his career but after moving here, he had two promotions in just over a year.
When the top job came up to lead our force, he was the perfect fit with 27 years' experience under his belt from policing in the Metropolitan Police Service.
Name: CC BJ Harrington
Role: Chief Constable
Serving since: 1990
What force have you transferred from?
Metropolitan Police Service
How long have you been with Essex Police?
Since April 2017
How long did you serve at your previous force?
27 years
Did you join us on a promotion or level transfer?
Promotion, I joined as Deputy Chief Constable and was promoted to Chief Constable
What do you like about working for Essex Police?
The people here at Essex Police are first-class. The officers, staff and volunteers are incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about policing. Everyone works as one big team to do the best they can and really make a difference
What sets Essex Police apart from other forces?
Our proximity to London gives us many capital-city-type challenges such as serious organised crime and gang-related crimes. However we also have our community policing teams dealing with more traditional county-force problems
We have a big rural community, one of the longest coastlines in UK, seaside towns and two airports. We police some of the most deprived and affluent areas in the UK, which brings many different challenges. There aren’t many other forces that have the diversity of Essex
What advice would you give to someone considering transferring to us?
Don’t underestimate the emotional challenge of transferring forces because you have probably invested a huge amount of time where you’ve been but the officers and staff here at Essex Police are hugely supportive and provide you with a real sense of belonging
There is a great wellbeing network and sense of camaraderie. I would encourage people to make the jump and experience policing in different places as we can all bring something new and can also learn new things in a new force or area
Did you have any misconceptions about Essex Police before you joined?
I knew Essex was a great force but one of the reasons I wanted to transfer was because I was made aware of the commitment and can-do attitude of the staff and officers. It is the enthusiasm and commitment of the officers, staff and volunteers that goes beyond what’s expected every single time
What positive comparisons can you make between Essex Police and your last force?
Essex can compete with any other force in every single area of policing as we have the same challenges, from organised crime through to community policing. We have serious crime, drugs, gangs and firearms teams through to specialist public protection teams that deal with crimes such as child sexual abuse, domestic abuse and cyber crime
In Essex, I see the immense commitment and professionalism of staff, officers and volunteers every day. The real family culture that exists where people look after and care for each other is a real strength for Essex
What are the cons about working for Essex Police compared to your last force?
Essex has significantly less people, significantly less money and has many of the same problems faced as London yet we are still driven, enthusiastic and fully committed to delivering a fantastic service. What the people in Essex Police achieve for the people of Essex is tremendous and I can only summarise it by saying Essex punches well above its weight
Your best work deserves our best thanks
Andy wanted a career he could excel in and after spotting a promotion opportunity, he transferred to us from the Metropolitan Police Service. He’s been recognised for his good work with two promotions in two and a half years.
Name: Chief Superintendent Andy Mariner
Role: Local Policing Area commander for North Essex
Serving since: 1998
What force have you transferred from?
Metropolitan Police Service
How long have you been with Essex Police?
Two and a half years
How long did you serve at your previous force?
18 years
Where did you live and where do you now live?
Bedfordshire now Essex
Did you join us on a promotion or level transfer?
I came here on promotion
Why did you transfer to Essex?
Essex has a brilliant reputation. I knew this before I came. I was conscious of the London weighting and my growing family and a promotion opportunity meant I could make the move and bring my family with me
Are you working in the same area of policing?
Yes
What sets Essex Police apart from other forces?
In Essex, a job well done will be recognised and your career is something we all care about. I'm not sure that's the case elsewhere.
What advice would you give to someone considering transferring to us?
Don’t hesitate, do your research, ask for a point of contact in your target role, but do it!
Did you have any misconceptions about Essex Police before you joined?
No
What do you like the most about working for Essex Police?
The values and the recognition great work gets
What positive comparisons can you make between Essex Police and your last force?
It’s busy, everyone works hard and everything that happens in London happens here. You will be put under pressure and you will continue to develop. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that it “only happens in London…”
Are there any negatives?
No
Skip the train delays and enjoy more time in your days
Luke was spending hours commuting into London every day and wanted a better work life balance. He transferred back to us from the Metropolitan Police Service to cut down his commute and now has more time to spend with his family.
Name: DC Luke Dangerfield
Role: Crime and Public Protection Command
Serving since: 2007
What force have you transferred from?
The Metropolitan Police Service
How long have you been with Essex Police?
Nine years before transferring to the Metropolitan Police Service and I have been back just over a year
How long did you serve at your previous force?
18 months
Where did you live and where do you now live?
I live in South Essex
Did you join us on a promotion or level transfer?
I joined on a level transfer
Why transfer to Essex?
I wanted to re-join my home force and work locally again. The main driver was to obtain a better work life balance by reducing my commuting time and be closer for my family
Are you working in the same area of policing?
No, I was previously working in homicide and I now work in public protection
What sets Essex Police apart from other forces?
From my personal experience, Essex has a diverse demographic and can offer a broad and diverse spectrum of roles and locations. Essex Police has a modern real estate and IT infrastructure that makes day to day policing a little easier
What advice would you give to someone considering transferring to us?
My advice would be not to hesitate or leave it too late as they may just miss the opportunity of working closer to home
Did you have any misconceptions about Essex Police before you joined?
Having worked for Essex Police previously I knew what to expect
What do you like the most about working for Essex Police?
I like working in central Southend in their newly refurbished building. Southend is a great place to work that offers a wide variety of work and a great bunch of colleagues
What positive comparisons can you make between Essex Police and your last force?
Personally, I can say that working for Essex Police has reduced my commuting time
Are there any negatives?
I found that the Metropolitan Police Service offered a greater variety of courses in the role I was in and that’s something that appears to be less widely available in Essex.
Be part of a police family not a police force
Jonathan wanted to work closer to his family and now feels at home in the Essex Police family after transferring from Thames Valley Police. He settled in quickly and likes the opportunities available to join other departments.
Name: PC Jonathan Stephenson
Role: Local Policing Team
Serving since: 2014
What force have you transferred from?
Thames Valley Police
How long have you been with Essex Police?
A year and a half
How long did you serve at your previous force?
Two years as a Special Constable while at university and three years as a PC
Did you join us on a promotion or level transfer?
Level transfer
Why?
I went to university in Thames Valley and pursued a policing career after graduating with a degree in policing. I moved back to Chelmsford with my family so I wanted a work life balance and a force closer to home
Are you working in the same area of policing?
Yes, I was on the Local Policing Team in High Wycombe and now I’m on the Local Policing Team in Brentwood
What sets Essex Police apart from other forces?
It’s a friendly force. It’s a smaller force than Thames Valley Police but there is huge diversity in the county so the policing is interesting and crimes are vast
What advice would you give to someone considering transferring to us?
Do it. Once you join Essex Police, you get settled in very quickly, everyone is very welcoming and there is a real family-feel
Did you have any misconceptions about Essex Police before you joined?
I expected everything to be completely different to Thames Valley Police but our core objectives were similar and our values are the same. No matter where you are, you are trained and can adapt to new environments and settle in quickly. I was also concerned I wouldn’t be able to transfer my response permit across but this wasn’t a problem. All my skills and training were transferred across into Essex
What do you like the most about working for Essex Police?
Other than the role itself, I like working in the area I grew up in and no two days are the same due to the diversity of the county and the diversity within the job
What positive comparisons can you make between Essex Police and your last force?
There are lots of opportunities to join other departments, Essex is always seeking CID roles and command teams always support you with development and training
Are there any negatives?
Huge challenges and low resources but there is a positive vibe with new recruits coming through the college and transferees from other forces.