Additional Payments in Armed Policing

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/007793/L

Version Date: 07/05/2025

The Grading & Pay Department have provided the following information.

Information regarding whether or not you pay any form of enhancement / Special Priority Payment / one off payment or other additional payment to any of the following;

*           Armed Response Vehicle Officers
*           Operational Firearms Commanders
*           Firearms Tactical Advisors
*           Any other specialism within armed policing (such as tactical rifle officers / close protection officers/Tactical Firearms Commanders)

If you do pay an enhancement please specify;

*           How much for each role
*           Whether the amount varies with rank i.e. Do PC's and Sgt's both receive an OFC payment
*           The frequency of any payment
*           If more than one enhancement can be claimed if officers fulfil multiple roles

Devon & Cornwall Police, in line with the temporary Police Regulation 34, Annex U, reviews roles to consider eligibility for a Service Critical Skills Payment.

The payments are afforded where a role is considered hard to fill, and there is evidence of these gaps. Or where specific skills or skillset, is in demonstrably short supply. Often the applicants meet both criteria.

This is a one-off payment, paid in two instalments subject to meeting the eligibility criteria set by the forces at two specific eligibility dates during the year. It is only in place for that year. The first payment comes in January, and the second payment in July.

In the most recent application run and confirmed roles included the following roles:

P4604                        Alliance Firearms ARV Team Sergeant

P4606                        Alliance Firearms ARV Team Constable

DP4647                     Constable - Firearms Instructor

DP4645                     Sergeant - Chief Firearms Instructor (Deputy)

DP5470                     Sergeant - Firearms Training Supervisor

P5085                        Alliance TFT Constable

P5084                        Tactical Support Team Sergeant

Amount per head:

Bi-annual payments of £375 for officers in a qualifying role on 31 Dec and 30 June.  This is then reviewed later in the year in readiness for December, where it would need to be considered if the role still meets the criteria for payment under Regulation 34. The payment value would also be reviewed for each application.

Difference per rank:  No

If one person occupies multiple roles, they will receive multiple payments.