Communications Operators

What does a communications operator do?

Whether you're dealing with a distraught parent, a victim of serious crime or any number of very different enquiries, you'll find it's very much your call as one of our frontline communications team.

Handling 999 and non-emergency calls, you'll often be a vital lifeline to people who may be scared, in a real state of panic, even abusive and sometimes all three. Whatever the call, you'll calmly assess the situation following set procedures, prioritise the need and gain the key information, which allows us to react accordingly.

As you gain more experience you'll be expected to operate our radio system as a dispatcher, making decisions surrounding the deployment of police officers and other police specialists.

Police related incidents can be reported anytime of the day and usually peak during evenings and weekends, so you will be working a shift system that covers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will need you to be very flexible about the hours you are available to work to enable us to cover our anticipated peak call periods and to provide a first class quality of service to the public. In return, you'll get great benefits and the potential to earn a very good salary.

Lancashire Constabulary is made up of six divisional areas. As a Communication Operator, you can be based in any one of these six divisions. These are outlined below:

The Communications Rooms for each Division are based at the following locations:

A - WESTERN - BLACKPOOL, Bonny St

B - NORTHERN - LANCASTER, Thurnham St

C - SOUTHERN - HUTTON HEADQUARTERS, Preston

D - CENTRAL - PRESTON, Lawson Street

E - EASTERN - BLACKBURN, Greenbank Business Park

F - PENNINE - BURNLEY, Parker Lane

We will endeavour to place you in your first choice of Division but this may not always be possible.