Transferees

Downloads

- Living and working in Gloucestershire - A guide for transferees

Please note: we are currently not recruiting Transferees - this will be amended when the situation changes

Information about the county of Gloucestershire

Geography

Gloucestershire is situated in the South West of England, covering an area of approximately 1,000 square miles and has a population of approximately 575,000.  Essentially a rural county, it is steeped in history and has been known since Roman times for farming, forestry and horticulture with an industrial history featuring the wool trade.
The county is divided into three distinct areas: the low lying Severn Vale, with the Forest Of Dean to the west and the Cotswolds to the east.  Within the county are the Cathedral City of Gloucester, which has a lively multi-cultural community and the Regency Town of Cheltenham, which enjoys a national and international reputation.
Other major towns include Stroud, historic Tewkesbury, Roman Cirencester and Lydney in the Forest Of Dean.  There are picturesque villages throughout the Cotswolds, such as Bourton On The Water, Stow and Bibury, and within the Cotswolds are the two Royal Households which we protect - Highgrove House and Gatcombe Park.

Housing

Compared to other parts of the Country, housing (particularly in suburban areas) is relatively easy to find.  It is not as expensive as the Home Counties, but costlier than most areas in the Midlands and in the North.

Education

The quality of education in the county is high. 

Transport and Recreation

Gloucestershire is ideally situated for access to most parts of the country.  The M5 runs through the county (affording easy access to Birmingham and Bristol), with the junctions of the M4 and the M50 just over the county boundary. These afford easy access to London and Wales respectively.  A little further afield are the beautiful and historic Cities of Bath and Oxford.  The county boasts good rail connections, and also benefits from the busy Gloucester/Sharpness Ship Canal and the River Severn which both traverse the county.  Every three years Gloucester Cathedral hosts the Three Choirs Festival Of Music.  Cheltenham is home to two theatres and is renowned for its International Music and Literature Festivals.  It also hosts the National Hunt Meeting in March, as well as other Race Meetings throughout the year.  Stow Horse Fair takes place annually, and the International Air Tattoo is held at Fairford.  First class sports clubs include Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, with two cricket festivals being held each year in the county.  Gloucester Rugby (Union) Club plays home matches at Kingsholm, Gloucester, and Cheltenham Football Club (The Robins) play home matches at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham.  Water sports are available at the Cotswold Water Park and on the River Severn.

Information about policing in Gloucestershire:

 
Q: How is Gloucestershire Constabulary organised geographically?

A: The Constabulary is divided up into three main divisions: Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Forest & Gloucester and Cotswolds & Stroud Division.

Q: How are the divisions further divided?
 
A: Each of the divisions are further divided up into Inspector Neighbourhood Areas (INAs) with an Inspector having localised responsibility for that individual area.
 

Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Division comprises 6 INAS: 

• Cheltenham Town Centre
• Hesters Way
• Leckhampton
• Whaddon
• Tewkesbury
• Cheltenham Road East

Forest and Gloucester Divison comprises 6 INAs:

• Gloucester City Centre
• Barton St
• Gloucester South
• Hucclecote
• Forest North
• Forest South

Cotswold and Stroud Division comprises 5 INAs: 

• Stroud
• Stonehouse
• Dursley
• North Cotswolds
• South Cotswolds

Q: Is Gloucestershire Constabulary a large force?

A: Gloucestershire Constabulary has approximately 1300 Police Officers and 800 support staff. The population of the county is approximately 575,000.

Q: If I am successful in my application, where can I expect to be stationed?

A: Potentially, you could be stationed anywhere in the county. However, if you do have a preference for a particular area, we will do our best to accommodate that preference if there are vacancies there.

Q: Is Gloucestershire predominantly a rural force?

A: The county is a good mixture of both rural and urban
areas. The main towns are Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Stroud, Coleford, Cinderford with Gloucester being a city.

Q: I have specialist skills, are these transferable to Gloucestershire Constabulary?

A: It really depends on the skill.  The usual procedure would be to check to see that your skill /qualification was equal to our forces' standards. If so, your skill should be transferable to us, but this will be an issue which is explored further during the process of transfer to us.
 

Q: What will the force do to help me transfer?
 
A: The force will offer assistance with your moving expenses. These should be "reasonable" and will include your estate agency fees, solicitors fees, stamp duty and removal costs. For the removal fees you should get three quotes and accept the most reasonable one.  The maximum allowance is £8000.00
 

Q:  What rent or housing allowances are available?
 
A:  For those currently in receipt of either of these allowances, please note that Rent Allowances vary between each Force area and the Gloucestershire rate may be different to that currently being received.  Housing allowances may also be at a different rate, and are subject to variables such as the date of commencement in service, and subject to their being no break in service.
 
Further advice can be sought upon application
 
Reasons to transfer to Gloucestershire: 

• Gloucestershire is a relatively small, friendly force.
• It offers a variety of different working environments: large rural areas and busy urban towns.
• We are striving to be the most operationally effective police force in the country, and Vision 2010 sets out how we will achieve that goal.
• All employees are encouraged to develop their skills and abilities, and both lateral and vertical development is actively encouraged.
• We have been awarded, and maintain, 'Investors In People' status.
• As detailed in the section above, there are many benefits to working in this county, such as housing, education, transport and recreation.
• The quality of life in Gloucestershire is high, and as an organisation we embrace the concept of Work Life balance
  and the principles of Fairness and Diversity

How do I apply? (We are currently not recruiting Transferees - this will be amended when the situation changes)

• Request a transferee application pack from the Career Development Department (see contact details below)

• Complete the pack and return it to us

• The papers are then forwarded to the Force Medical Officer (FMO)

• Once the FMO has given medical clearance to proceed, we will invite you for interview and a medical examination

• If you pass both the Interview and the medical, we will write to your current force for your complaints & discipline record, sickness record and your PDR's for the last two years. Then a vetting process will be undertaken in accordance with the vetting level required for the advertised post

• Once the above information has reached us and it has been approved as satisfactory, we will write to you again to offer you appointment

• The date on which you actually transfer to us is flexible and is dependent on factors such as when you sell your house and are in a position to move to the county

• Upon the offer of a posting, and after a start date has been mutually agreed, a personalised induction will be compiled. This will be based on your individual needs, and take into account the operational requirements of the role.

Eligibility to apply:
 
There are no restrictions with regard to length of service. For further information on transferring please contact:
Telephone Enquiries to Resourcing Unit 01452 754353
 
or email: mailto:Resourcing@gloucestershire.police.uk