Job Description

Prospective Police Officers must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.

About the role

Are you ready to make history? For the first time in 26 years, police horses are returning to the West Midlands and we have an exciting opportunity, at the rank of Sergeant, to become a founding member of the new Mounted Unit. This is your chance to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our force and delivering first-class policing to our communities.


We are looking for highly motivated, Level 2 Public Order trained sergeants who possess the skills, knowledge, and passion to take on this unique and rewarding role.

As a Mounted Unit Sergeant, you will:

Lead and inspire a dedicated team of officers, setting the standard for operational excellence.


Represent the force in high-profile deployments, including public order policing, major sporting events, and community engagement activities.


Take part in intelligence-led crime reduction patrols and deliver reassurance to communities.


Develop expertise in equine management, including horse riding and care.


This role demands resilience, flexibility, and a commitment to public service excellence. Mounted Unit deployments will cover 7 days a week (0700-midnight), with occasional work outside these hours at short notice.

Process:

The assessment for this role requires a significant commitment from applicants. All applicants must attend the following:


Role Suitability Assessment: TBC


Interviews: TBC

What We're Looking For:

We welcome applications from current Mounted Unit Sergeants or those with a current Standard Equine Course (SEC) accreditation. We are seeking excellent Police Sergeants who are substantive in rank and able to bring their operational policing skills to the Mounted Unit.


Applicants must demonstrate:


Flexibility to meet the demanding schedule of the Mounted Unit Strong operational policing experience Excellent communication and engagement skills We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the communities we serve. Female officers, ethnic minority officers, and LGBTQ+ officers are especially encouraged to apply.

Essential Skills:

Successful completion of NPCC Standard Equine Course (16 weeks)


Flexibility with working time demands of the department.


Knowledge and experience of Public Order Policing


Evidence of strong operational policing competence


Level 2 Public Order Trained


PST trained.


Excellent communication & engagement skills


Experience in Managing and driving team performance.


Experience in Managing officer welfare.


Proven operational leadership experience.


Proven experience in managing standards and culture.

Desirable Skills:

Mounted Unit accreditations and training in addition to Standard Equine Course i.e. Intermediate Rider, Mounted Public Order Commander, NPCC Mounted Instructor.

Vetting

Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process. Upon being successful we will contact your current force regarding any PSD previous or outstanding Investigations.

Medical

Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test.

Contact:

For more information please email: mountedunit@westmidlands.police.uk

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a 'Disability Confident Interview Scheme' - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

"Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities