Special Priority Payments

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/002931/J

Version Date: 14/04/2025

The Alliance People Department and the Alliance Finance Department have provided the following information.

Information regarding whether or not you pay any form of enhancement / Special Priority Payment / one off payment or other additional payment to any of the following;

*           Armed Response Vehicle Officers
*           Operational Firearms Commanders
*           Firearms Tactical Advisors
*           Any other specialism within armed policing (such as tactical rifle officers / close protection officers/Tactical Firearms Commanders)

Dorset Police, in line with the temporary Police Regulation 34, Annex U, reviews roles to consider eligibility for a Service Critical Skills Payment. The payments are afforded where a role is considered hard to fill, and there is evidence of these gaps; or where specific skills or skillset, is in demonstrably short supply. Often the applicants meet both in some way.

This is a one-off payment, paid in two instalments subject to meeting the eligibility criteria set by the Force at two specific eligibility dates during the year. It is only in place for that year. The first payment is made in January, and the second payment in July.

Applications for the following year, subject to the extension of the Regulation are considered ready for December.

If you do pay an enhancement please specify;

*           How much for each role

Within Dorset Police Alliance Specialist Operations, Firearms officers are in receipt of a Service Critical Skills Payment for 2024/25.

In the most recent application run and confirmed roles – this included the following roles:

• Alliance Firearms ARV Team Sergeant
• Alliance Firearms ARV Team Constable
• Constable - Firearms Instructor
• Sergeant - Chief Firearms Instructor (Deputy)
• Sergeant - Firearms Training Supervisor
• Alliance TFT Constable
• Tactical Support Team Sergeant

*           Whether the amount varies with rank i.e. Do PC's and Sgt's both receive an OFC payment

*           The frequency of any payment

* The base amount for an ARV Officer is £750 with an addition of £250 for those who hold a qualifying Specialist Skill (OFC, TA, CP, TRO, DS, MASTS), hence the variation.

*           If more than one enhancement can be claimed if officers fulfil multiple roles

If officers occupy both roles, they will receive both payments and there is no reduction for ‘double hatting’.

There are no other specific payments for these roles.