Roads policing

Role purpose

Roads police – sometimes referred to as ‘traffic police’ – are responsible for policing the nation’s roads. As a roads police officer, you'll cover a wide range of roles aimed at preventing injury and loss of life on the roads.

Here’s a bit more about what roads policing involves:

• You'll provide a visible presence on the roads to deter crime, reassure the community and reduce the fear of crime.
• You'll attend and control the scene of road-related incidents, including those which may be serious, fatal and life altering.
• You'll deliver education initiatives to promote road safety within the community.
• You'll drive police patrol vehicles, using specialist driving skills where necessary to bring other vehicles to a stop.
• You'll talk with and support victims, witnesses and suspects involved in road incidents and gather information that could lead to a prosecution.

This is a very varied and rewarding role, requiring specialist driving skills as well as the ability to respond quickly and calmly in emergencies. You'll receive all the training and support you need.

The role suits those who have excellent people skills, as you'll be engaging with communities, supporting victims and dealing with offenders. You’ll be out there on the front line every day, so you have a vital role to play in representing the police in your local area.