Northamptonshire Police
East Midlands · Territorial force · 1,500 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
1,500
Staff
750
Area (sq miles)
913
Population served
770,000
About Northamptonshire Police
Covering Northampton, Kettering and Corby. A mid-sized force that has undergone significant modernisation, centrally located with good transport links and reasonable living costs.
Northamptonshire Police serves a diverse and vibrant area in the East Midlands, encompassing urban, rural, and semi-rural settings, including major towns like Northampton, Kettering, and Corby. With efficient transport corridors, including the M1 motorway and several railway lines, the region boasts excellent connectivity, facilitating both local and cross-border policing. The force shares borders with other police jurisdictions, enhancing collaborative operations in crime prevention and response. Notably, Northamptonshire has strategic military facilities, leading to unique policing scenarios associated with both civilian and military communities.
The force has specialized units focusing on local needs, such as the Vulnerability and Exploitation Team, dedicated to tackling issues of safeguarding and domestic violence, ensuring that vulnerable members of the community receive the attention and support required. Their Cyber Crime Unit reflects a modern approach to tackling the evolving nature of crime. Additionally, a dedicated Rural Crime Team focuses on crime and safety in more isolated areas, addressing the specific challenges faced by rural populations.
In terms of current priorities, Northamptonshire Police emphasizes community engagement, with a focus on violence reduction, anti-social behavior, road safety, and tackling drug-related crime. They are actively working to enhance public trust and transparency, continually adapting to the needs of residents and visitors. Overall, the force offers a dynamic environment for officers considering a new path, welcoming those committed to making a positive impact across varied communities.
Current priorities
- Reducing violence and anti-social behaviour
- Improving road safety
- Tackling drug-related crime
- Enhancing community engagement
- Building public trust and confidence
Notable specialisms
Source: About Northamptonshire Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
1,500
Staff
750
Total headcount
2,250
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
requires improvement
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Northamptonshire Police is named in 1 recent IOPC investigation outcome or HMICFRS thematic report.
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 190 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 97.4% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Evidence of offences under the Act | 77 |
| Controlled drugs | 40 |
| Offensive weapons | 37 |
| Article for use in theft | 18 |
| Firearms | 10 |
| Stolen goods | 6 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 2 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 165 |
| Arrest | 21 |
| Community resolution | 3 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 1 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
6,961 crimes recorded by Northamptonshire Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,235 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,956 |
| Shoplifting | 621 |
| Other theft | 411 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 384 |
| Public order | 366 |
| Vehicle crime | 262 |
| Burglary | 232 |
| Drugs | 144 |
| Other crime | 99 |
| Robbery | 97 |
| Possession of weapons | 86 |
| Bicycle theft | 47 |
| Theft from the person | 21 |
| Total | 6,961 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Northamptonshire Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Northamptonshire Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Northamptonshire Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.