About Bedfordshire Police

Bedfordshire has a complex mix of volume crime, serious crimes, drugs, gangs and terrorism threats. Every day our officers meet threats, harm and risks like those in large cities and protecting vulnerable people is our primary focus. The force has the highest number of organised crime groups in the region per head of population and with that comes significant demand from drugs and violent crime.

Despite our relatively small size, we lead joint protective services - Armed Policing, Dogs, Roads Policing, Major Crime - for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and are the lead force for the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit – a co-ordinated approach from the seven forces to tackle serious and organised crime, and terrorism. Joining Bedfordshire Police gives you both collaborative and regional opportunities in specialised roles.

We employ 1,277 officers, including in tri-force collaborated units, 48 PCSOs and over 151 special constables that volunteer with us. We also employ 1,046 police staff and have support from multiple watch scheme groups, PSV volunteers and 78 police cadets.

Collaborative working

In 2008 we began working collaboratively with neighbouring forces and have strong relationships with Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. The collaboration we have is one of the most impressive, effective and sustained in policing.

The strategic alliance has produced extensive achievements in the collaboration of operational and organisational departments.

This programme of change is about both delivering savings and creating a structure that is sustainable and supportive of local policing in each of the three counties, regardless of local difference. It is incredibly important to us all and delivers resilience and capabilities that wouldn’t be recognised on a standalone basis.

We work cohesively as a region and the role that the force plays in such collaboration displays the nature and scale of the criminality we face in Bedfordshire and its impact on our communities.

Inclusivity statement

Everyone at Bedfordshire Constabulary takes personal responsibility to help create an inclusive workplace, where police officers and staff respect one another, feel valued for their differences and can be themselves. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, wherever needed so everyone feels welcome and can flourish.