Police officers are increasingly turning to secondary jobs as marriage registrars, ballet teachers and Tai Chi instructors.

Since June last year, more than 75 officers with Sussex Police have applied for permission to have a secondary income as well as 50 other police staff.

In comparison just 30 officers applied for permission to have secondary employment between August 2009 and August 2010.

Union leaders said the rise reflected increasing uncertainty over officer’s pay and the current tough economic climate.

Unusual jobs that officers applied for included an officer interested in a career in modelling, a Lewes detective constable who wanted to be an Avon rep and a police sergeant in Bexhill who wanted to give harbour tours.

Other applications included a request to be a skydive instructor, a DJ, an Open University exam marker, a Slimming World consultant and one PC in Steyning who wanted to set up a rabbit boarding facility.

Five officers had applications rejected including two PCs who were turned down for driving jobs and a PC who requested to become a part-time lifeguard.

Sussex Police Federation’s branch chairman Bob Brown said: “It reflects the concern that officers have, one year in to a two year pay freeze as well as concerns about pay and conditions review in arbitration which could see their pay cut."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Police officers and PCSOs have an individual responsibility to declare business interests and/or additional work at the earliest opportunity from their application to join Sussex Police and throughout their service with the force.”