Helping people

What does a
police officer do?

Keeps people safe and makes sure laws are followed.

A career guide for curious students · Grades 3–12

Illustration of a police officer at work
Explore the everyday work behind this career.

A day in the life

Patrols, responds to emergencies, investigates, and helps people in trouble.

Skills to practise

Courage, fairness, fitness, calm decisions.

How to explore this path

Selection and police training.

Training, qualifications and professional rules vary by country. Check current local requirements with a teacher or careers counsellor.

School subjects & interests

Police Officer connects with Social Science, Physical Education. You may enjoy this work if you like outdoors, with people.

TRY A LITTLE OF THIS CAREER

A hands-on activity

Make a safety rules poster for your school gate.

Ask an adult to help. Follow the safety notes in the activity. Print this activity or save it as a PDF in your chosen language. Downloadable PDF files are in English.

For younger explorers: a simpler explanation

What do they do?

Police officers help keep people safe and find those who break the law.

What helps?

Being brave, fair, and fit.

Learning about the path

You pass selection and train at a police academy.

Questions to explore next

Related careers to discover

My exploration notebook

Stored only in this browser. Choose up to three careers for a side-by-side comparison.