Force Command Centre Dispatcher

Surrey Police Service; Guildford; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Career development and progression

Job summary

Surrey Police Service in Guildford is seeking a proactive Force Command Centre Dispatcher to help ensure the right help reaches the right place quickly. You will review incidents, assess risk, and prioritise deployments to protect the public while supporting frontline colleagues.

This frontline, fast-paced role involves varied duties, from welfare concerns to urgent incident responses. Training is provided, with a 24/7 rotating shift pattern and flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Calm decision-making under pressure.
• Strong judgement and common sense.
• Excellent communication and attention to detail.
• Emotional resilience (some incidents can be distressing or traumatic).
• Confidence working independently and as part of a tight team.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing incidents that require deployment and risk‑assessing reports quickly and confidently.
• Prioritising demand and deploying resources based on risk of harm.
• Passing clear, pertinent information to attending officers / staff so they can arrive informed and ready.
• Working closely with partner agencies and other emergency services to ensure the most appropriate response.
• Keeping victims / callers updated where appropriate—providing reassurance, advice and realistic expectations.

Skills

Calm decision‑making under pressure

Strong judgement and common sense

Excellent communication and attention

Emotional resilience

Confidence working independently and w

Job description

Vacancy Information

Division / Department - Contact and Control
Grade - Grade E
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £29,151 - £32,224
Working Hours - 36.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance -
Politically Restricted -
Location - Surrey Police Headquarters, Guildford

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.

Chief Constable Tim De Meyer & Chief Constable Jo Shiner

The Role & Key Responsibilities

You already know that policing is unpredictable. Now imagine being the person who makes sure the right help gets to the right place—fast.

As an Force Command Centre Dispatcher, you’ll be pivotal in managing the deployment of officers and staff across Surrey—reviewing incidents, risk‑assessing what’s coming in, and prioritising deployment to protect the public and support frontline colleagues.

This is not a desk job. It’s a frontline support role—at pace.
One moment you could be assessing a welfare concern or vulnerability report; the next, coordinating a response to an urgent incident. Every decision matters, and no two shifts look the same.

What you’ll be doing

• Reviewing incidents that require deployment and risk‑assessing reports quickly and confidently


• Prioritising demand and deploying resources based on risk of harm


• Passing clear, pertinent information to attending officers / staff so they can arrive informed and ready


• Working closely with partner agencies and other emergency services to ensure the most appropriate response


• Keeping victims / callers updated where appropriate—providing reassurance, advice and realistic expectations

It is our mission to identify and protect vulnerable people, prevent and respond to harm and keep people safe.

This is a 24/7 service—so you’ll work a rotating pattern across days, nights, weekends and bank holidays. In this role you will work 2 day shifts followed by 2 night shifts and then 4 days off.

We recognise colleagues balance demanding roles with life outside work, and we welcome applications and discussion with candidates who want to work full time or part time/flexible hours

Skills & Experience

You don’t need previous control room experience—we’ll train you—but you do need the mindset:

• Calm decision‑making under pressure


• Strong judgement and common sense


• Excellent communication and attention to detail


• Emotional resilience (some incidents can be distressing or traumatic)


• Confidence working independently and as part of a tight team

You’ll be supported from day one with a structured classroom‑based programme and on‑the‑job learning with a dedicated coach—helping you build confidence until you’re fully independent.

Why Work With Us?

Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We’re invested in supporting people to balance their life with work and we encourage flexible working. We are open to conversations about job shares and part time working. We encourage agile working, giving you the opportunity to manage your own diary and work wherever you give the best service to the public.

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

• Starting salary: £35,629 (Grade E, inclusive of an unsocial hours allowance of £6,802)


• Career development and progression pathways


• The satisfaction of knowing your work directly supports colleagues and helps protect the public

Please use the following links for more information on the benefits of working with