Emergency Control & Contact Handler - 05.10.2026

Sussex Police; Lewes; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days leave

Pension scheme

On-site gym

Training and development

Career progression

Shift allowance

Job summary

Sussex Police in Lewes is hiring Control and Contact Handlers to be the first point of contact by phone or email, supporting frontline operations within the Force Contact, Command and Control Department.

The role offers a starting salary in the stated range, a 37-hour week, and 24/7 shift patterns with progression opportunities. Training is provided in an 11-week full-time program at Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes.

Qualifications

• You must be aged 18 or over on the day you submit your application – no upper age limit.
• You must have lived in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application.
• Not be a current or previous member of a proscribed terrorist organisation or group.
• Not have served a prison sentence.
• It is a must that candidates have fast and accurate typing skills and ideally are familiar with the phonetic alphabet.

Responsibilities

• You will be the first point of contact with the public via phone or email.
• Join the Force Contact, Command and Control Department, a frontline hub rather than just a call centre.

Skills

Typing speed

Phonetic alphabet

Job description

Division / Department - Contact and Control
Grade - Grade 9
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £30,897 - £33,603
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance -
Politically Restricted -
Location - Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes

The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.

Chief Constables' Message

We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.

We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.

We wish you all the very best with your application.

The Role and Key Responsibilities

Do a job that matters.

We’re hiring Control and Contact Handlers and we want you to join us. For many people, our Control and Contact Handlers are the first point of contact with the police, whether it’s over the phone or by email. Our Force Contact, Command and Control Department isn’t just a call centre, it’s the start of our front line.

You’ll get a good starting salary, opportunities for progression and the satisfaction that comes from helping others.

Skills & Experience

Are you eligible?

• You must be aged 18 or over on the day you submit your application – no upper age limit
• You must have lived in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application
• Not be a current or previous member of a proscribed terrorist organisation or group.
• Not have served a prison sentence.
• It is a must that candidates have fast and accurate typing skills and ideally are familiar with the phonetic alphabet.

Why Work With Us?

We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits:

• starting salary of £30,897.00 plus unsocial hours shift allowance in the region of £10,486 per year, for a full time shift worker (24/7 shift pattern only).
• 25 days per year annual leave, rising to 30 days depending on your length of service (annual leave based on a 37 hour working week and 7.4 hour day)
• ongoing training and development
• career progression
• contributory pension scheme (LGPS)
• discounts for everyday spend
• on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs
• generous and supportive parental leave
• financial and mental well being guidance and support
• discounted contributory healthcare scheme

Shift Patterns

We are looking to recruit for our 24/7 coverage roles:

This role requires availability to commit to a rotating 32 week shift pattern, including:

• Day, evening and night shifts
• Weekends and Bank Holidays
• Team based scheduling to ensure consistent coverage

Further details regarding the 24/7 shift pattern and the unsociable hours allowance are attached to this advert.

Intakes & Training

We are looking for successful applicants to join us in March and April 2027, further intakes in 2027 will be available, we are unable to confirm or guarantee an intake as this is clearance dependant and on the allocation numbers required.

Successful candidates will join an 11-week training course; consisting of five weeks training and six weeks tutoring where we will support and coach you to become competent in the role. The training course is full-time, Monday to Friday, working 8:00 to 16:00. Upon completing the training you will work across both 101 and 999 within our contact centre based at Sussex Police Headquarters in Lewes.

Starting your career in our contact centre will provide you with a wide range of skills and experiences which will enable you to fulfil both elements of the role, within contact and control. You then have the opportunity to apply to progress into a supervisory role, or to a number of different roles across the organisation. You could become a Police Officer or a PCSO, start an investigative career or work in one of our support departments such as corporate communications or professional development. The possibilities are endless.

The role of Control and Contact Handler is tenured for 24 months, meaning that you will not be able to start a new position within Force during this time. You may however be able to apply for roles with longer recruitment time frames e.g. Police Constable.

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people. It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our full anti-racism statement here .

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.

Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding [e-mail] your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.

Location Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes