In a nationwide recruitment drive, the Metropolitan Police are proactively looking to attract experienced officers for a wide variety of posts, both uniformed and CID and at various ranks. In an explanatory article, the Met states:

You must have completed your probationary period with a Home Office force based in the United Kingdom. You cannot transfer from the Royal Military Police or a police force outside the UK.

If you meet these requirements and you’re interested in enjoying the kind of experiences and rewards only available at the Met, we’d like to hear from you.

Policing in London
The Met is a police service like no other, offering a unique professional challenge, even for the most experienced Police Officer.

The size, diversity and importance of our organisation means that we have a huge range of potential career paths, all against the backdrop of the one of the world's most exciting cities.

And the rewards available to Police Officers in London are now better than ever, recognising the unique requirements of living and working in the capital.

Assessing transfer requests
All applicants from other police forces are subject to a written recommendation from their current line manager. They must also supply evidence of any sickness absence, including a nil return, from their previous HR department.

Induction training
All transfers are required to undertake a six-day non-residential induction course at Hendon Training School before taking up their posting, unless you have recent previous Met experience.

If your only previous experience is in Home Office non-approved services (e.g. PSNI, Scottish or MOD Police) you will be required to undertake the full 17-week recruits' initial training course, although a shorter course is currently being reviewed.

Probation
Generally speaking, if you have successfully completed a probationary period with another Home Office constabulary, you will not be required to complete another such period within the Met.

Location of posting
You will have the opportunity to nominate your preferred choice of borough, which we will do our best to accommodate given the vacancies that exist.

Specialist roles
If you would like to transfer to a specialist role, you will need to provide evidence of your qualifications together with your application. You will normally be required to pass an assessment and, for certain positions, you may be vetted at a higher level for security reasons.

Check our current vacancies to see which specialist roles we are looking to fill right now.

Pensions advice: Enquiries about pension arrangements and previous contributions can be addressed to Logica CMG on 0845 850 0279.

Basically they want trained, experienced officers.

Of course, let other Forces pay for their training...

Cuts out the middle man