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Police officer: Entry requirements

There are no formal educational requirements for entry to the police service. The profession is open to graduates, Diplomates and non-graduates alike. Recruitment and selection procedures are managed by police services at a local level, although a nationally agreed competency-based framework is applied.

Entry is open to British and Commonwealth citizens, EC/EEA nationals, and foreign nationals who have no restrictions on their leave to remain in the UK.

Pre-entry experience is not essential, although it is advantageous to have some experience of working with individuals or groups in the community, such as sports coaching or working with local youth groups.

It is important to be able to state and explain your reasons for choosing a career in the police force, and provide details of any contacts made within the service. Try to meet police officers at campus presentations and careers fairs, find out about familiarisation events run by police services, or volunteer as a special constable to widen your understanding of the police officer role.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• effective communication skills including tact and diplomacy;
• community and customer focus;
• a sense of personal responsibility, integrity and resilience;
• problem-solving skills;
• a confident and calm manner;
• good literacy skills so that you can accurately record details;
• respect for diversity;
• teamworking skills and the ability to work independently.

Prospective entrants complete the initial application form and medical questionnaire, which are assessed and scored against entrance criteria. If this assessment is positive, the next stage is an assessment centre comprising a series of assessment tests and an interview. Successful applicants are then required to pass job-related fitness and medical tests (eyesight, hearing, blood pressure, body mass and a full medical). The purpose of these tests is to ensure that the entrant has a basic level of fitness and can meet the physical demands of policing. Appointments are then made, subject to references and security clearance.

People with minor convictions and/or cautions are not automatically precluded from entry to the police service, although certain offences and conditions will make you ineligible, so check with your local force. Details of spent convictions, as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, must be disclosed.

More information on recruitment is available from the Home Office , the Scottish Police College and the Police Recruitment Service - Could You? websites.

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against candidates on the grounds of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or religious faith. For more information on equality and diversity in the job market see Handling Discrimination.

For more information see work experience and find courses and research.

AGCAS

Written by Linda Holdsworth, University of Bradford

Last updated:

March 2008

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