How to apply

Please ensure that you have the following information readily available: 

• Personal Details – Name/ Date of Birth/ National Insurance Number/ Contact Details/ Driving License.
• Nationality & Residential Status – You must upload a valid UK passport, birth certificate, or residency permit.
• Which Entry Route? Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), Degree-Holder Entry Programme (DHEP), Degree in Professional Policing (PPD).
• Qualifications – You must upload any certificates required for the entry route you are applying for.  Failure to upload the correct certificates could delay your application.
  • PCDA – English and Maths GCSE (grade C/4 or higher or equivalent), Level 3 certificates worth at least 64 UCAS points
  • DHEP – Degree certificate (any subject)
  • PPD – Degree in Professional Policing  (licenced by the College of Policing)
• Driving Licence Details - some forces will allow you to apply with a provisional licence, but you must hold a Full UK licence before you start. Other forces require this upon application; please visit the force website for more information.
• Employment History and References - further details will be requested during the vetting checks. 
• Current Member of Staff? If you already work for the police in a staff role or as a PCSO, some forces may prioritise your application.
• Previous Cautions or Convictions – Previous cautions or convictions will not result in automatic exclusion from consideration. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis. All candidates' criminal records are subject to scrutiny, so it is advisable to be honest and upfront during the initial stage. Failure to disclose any relevant information that is subsequently discovered will have a negative impact on your application. 
• Family Criminal Records – You will be required to provide the names and addresses of your family members and cohabitants, along with details of any past criminal convictions. It is essential to be truthful and provide as much accurate information as possible, even if you are not aware of your family members' history. This information will be evaluated by the recruitment officers to ensure that you are not susceptible to bribery or corruption.
• Financial Situation - As part of the recruitment process, you will be required to reveal your financial status and any history of bankruptcy. This is necessary to enable the recruitment officers to evaluate whether there is any potential vulnerability to bribery or corruption in your situation.
• Tattoos – You must provide photos of all tattoos, along with translations of any text that is not in English.  All tattoos are judged on an individual basis, however please be aware that tattoos located above the neckline will usually exclude you from consideration.
• Protected Characteristics – All forces monitor the characteristics of applicants for diversity purposes.  They will ask your age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality etc.  

"Take what information and advice you can from the people who are in the know - the people who are involved in the recruitment process. Do make a note of who you've spoken with and who's been able to be of assistance." Peter Fraser, Police Constable (PCDA).

The National SIFT allows you to demonstrate your suitability for entry into a career as a police constable and consists of a Situational judgment test (SJT) and Behaviour style questionnaire (BSQ). If your application from stage 1 is approved, you will receive an email inviting you to complete the National SIFT process online. You will complete two exercises:

Situational judgement test 

The SJT measures your ability to choose appropriate actions in situations like those you could face as a police constable.  Your judgement and ability to make effective decisions will be graded against the College of Policing Competency and Values Framework.

You will be presented with fifteen scenarios, each scenario having four possible outcomes. You will be required to rate the effectiveness of each action for the scenario - is it counterproductive; ineffective; slightly ineffective; effective; or very effective? 

Behavioural style questionnaire

This is designed to assess if you have the right behaviours and attitudes to be an effective police constable. It measures your typical behaviour and preferences at work, again measuring them against the College of Policing Competency and Values Framework.

You will be presented with eighty statements and asked to what extent you agree or disagree with each. You may also be asked to rank statements according to which is most like your typical behaviour in the workplace. Do you completely disagree; strongly disagree; somewhat disagree; neither agree nor disagree; somewhat agree; strongly agree; or completely agree?

The Competencies and Value Framework

 The tests help assess if you have the ideal values and behaviours required of a police officer as detailed in the Competency & Values Framework.

Familiarise yourself with the values and competencies. Not only what they are, but how you think these would be applied in practice. The force will notify you as to what comptencies and values will be assed for the National SIFT, but you can also read the College of Policing's guidance on the National SIFT. 

You will need to register on the SIFT system, but this process is very short and you will be sent the details from the force. The system is accessible twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week, allowing you to complete the exercises at a time that’s convenient for you. The exercises can be undertaken in any order but please note that you have seven days to complete them. 

There is no time limit for the SIFT exercises and the system is compatible with text to speech software, changes to background colour and coloured overlays. For this reason, reasonable adjustments are not required. 

Feedback will be provided to unsuccessful applicants. If you do not pass the National SIFT, you can re-apply after a three-month period, but you cannot complete the process more than twice during a rolling cycle.

 Top Tips

Situational Judgement Test

1. Remember the competencies and values being assessed.
2. Read and listen to instructions carefully.
3. Concentrate in a quiet room free of distractions.
4. Rate all actions for each scenario, considering them individually.
5. Do not open multiple exercise links or use multiple devices simultaneously as this will result in unsuccessful submission of the assessments on the platform.

Behavioural Styles Questionnaire

1. Consider your actual work behaviours when responding to the statements.
2. Remember, the police the value integrity - be honest and authentic in your answers.
3. Read each statement carefully to fully understand its meaning.
4. Find a quiet, distraction-free room to concentrate and take your time.
5. Practice with any example questions so you're familiar with the format.

"[The National SIFT] was to assess your suitablity, if you like, as to whether you would make a good officer." Emma Bailey, Police Constable (PCDA).

The online assessment centre is designed to test your suitability for the police and you will be assessed against the Competencies and Values Framework.

Take a look at these resources to help you prepare:

• Talking Blues Police Recruitment - online assessment centre overview
• Police Officer Interview Questions and Answers
• Video-based exercises, role play
• The College of Policing Code of Ethics
• How to answer Police Code of Ethics at force interview
• How to deal with inappropriate behaviour
• The Criminal Justice System

The online assessment centre consists of three exercises – a competency-based interview, a written exercise, and a briefing exercise. To complete the assessments, you will require an internet-enabled device with camera (laptop, tablet or mobile phone) and the following:

• Latest version of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Safari 
• Latest version of Adobe Flash installed

If you are unsuccessful at first, you can resit the online assessment centre after 3 months from receiving your results. You are limited to attempting it twice within a 12-month period and you will have to complete all of the online assessment process again. A successful completion of the online assessment centre is usually valid for two years. 

The assessment centre exercises are as follows:

Competency-based interview (CBI)

The assessors will be looking for you to demonstrate the values, behaviours, and competencies of a police officer.

You will be notified about which competencies and values will be assessed in each stage of the online assessment. This can be found in the College of Policing’s Online Assessments Candidate’s Guide.

And may be:

The force may hold support sessions to run through what to expect and how you can relate your answers back to policing (contact the force for these). They are trying to get a sense of how you are as a person, your behaviours, values and capabilities. They wouldn’t expect you to know everything about policing, but make sure you are familiar with the Competencies and Values.

STAR Model

The STAR model is an effective way to providing detailed and structured answers for the competency-based questions.

• Situation – is where you set the context of your example.  Where were you working at the time?  What was your role?  Why were you there? What other people were involved and their roles?
• Task – is where you explain the problem that you were faced with.  What difficulty did you need to overcome? Why was this a challenging situation? What were you trying to achieve?
• Action – this is where you can go into detail about what you did, to show how you used that value or competency in this situation. What did you do? How did you do it? What skill dis you use?  What was your decision-making process?  What other considerations did you take into account?
• Result – this is where you explain the outcome. Was the problem resolved?  Was everyone happy? What did you learn from this experience?

Top Tips

1. Prepare – spend time preparing and attend any support sessions offered by the police
2. Create a table to do a skills audit - write down a list of the competencies and values in one column and write down examples of how you have shown this/your skills in the next column. They can be examples from personal life, volunteering, work, prior policing experience. People often think you need prior policing experience, but they are looking for how you are as a person.
3. Interview prep – practice talking aloud, whether this is in front of the mirror, family or friends. You can even record yourself to play it back on a phone or computer. Remember, the assessment is online, so practice talking to a screen.
4. Look presentable – treat this as a face-to-face interview and consider your appearance. Make sure you are well lit and you have a plain background with no noise distractions.
5. Use the time given - Make the most of the full five minutes for each question and expand on your answers. Don't forget to relate back to the competencies and values (you will be told which ones will be assessed at each stage of the assessment).
   
   

Written exercise

For the written exercise, you will be asked to take on the role of a serving police officer and will be presented with a written task for your line manager.

You will have approximately 40 minutes to complete the exercise, but you will have a maximum time of 120 minutes, so you don’t need to rush. You should allocate 10 minutes to read the information provided. The exercise cannot be paused and completed later on; you will be required to type the written exercise on your web browser. You will need a reliable computer/laptop/tablet.

You will be given four items of information to help you with this task and you should only use the facts and information provided. You will need to be as concise and professional as possible. Ensure you answer each question in the same response box and use the on-screen timer to manage your time.

It is worth noting that spelling and grammar is not assessed in this exercise.

The assessors will be assessing you against the competencies and values in the College of Policing Framework, possibly the following:

Top Tips

1. Familiarise - get to know Competencies and Values Framework, so you can relate your response to these. How may an officer use these for their written response?
2. Practice - Practice reading and writing concisely and within the time limit. Practice reading through sample writing (such as a newspaper) and picking out key information and then putting it together in an email format. You may be able to access mock exercises online.
3. Be Professional - You will be taking on the role of a Police Officer, so you should be professional in your response.
4. Stick to the facts - The task is likely to focus on an issue in the community. Only use the facts and information provided, trying to remember key pieces as you go through; do not add your own information or make inferences.
5. Prepare - Make sure you have a computer/laptop/tablet that you can type on. Find somewhere quiet work, turn off notifications and ensure you have the latest web browser installed.
   
   

Briefing exercise

The final part of the online assessment is the briefing exercise. You will be presented with a series of issues from a scenario and will need to assume the role of a police constable responsible for dealing with these issues. Your task will be to provide a verbal response to these issues.

A set of questions will be asked relating to each issue and you will need to provide a response for each, preparation materials will be provided to aid your preparation for the first 10 minutes of the exercise. Only use the information provided. 

You will have 50 minutes for the questions and answers (with extra time being for the platform navigation) and these are then broken down into 3 parts:

1. You will answer four questions relating to the first part of the scenario as provided. Each question will appear on the screen for you to read, but it is also read out loud. You will have up to one minute to prepare your question and three minutes to provide your response.
2. You will then be given more information and 4 new questions to answer. The questions and timings will be the same as with step 1.
3. You will be given further information and 4 more questions to answer. The questions and timings will also be the same as with step 1 and 2. 

 The test must be completed in one sitting. 

You may be assessed against the following competencies and values:

You cannot use any external materials to help you with the assessment. As you are taking on the role of a Police Constable in the exercise, you must be professional and answer with the knowledge of the competencies and values that are being assessed.

Top Tips

1. Be Professional - In the exercise, you will take on the role of a Police Officer, so be preofessional. You will be expected to show a general knowledge of how to build positive relationships and community relationships. You do not need technical knowledge of policing.
2. Know the CVF - Familarise yourself with the competencies and values and refer to the relevant ones throughout. How may an officer use these in different scenarios?
3. Talk aloud - Practice answering questions aloud and within the time limit (use familiar topics to start with, such as hobbies and interests before thinking of policing scenarios); try to express yourself clearly and concisely.
4. Be Conscise - Be specific and keep an eye on the time; refer to the online guidance, including prompts to structure your answer.
5. Prepare - Make sure you have a computer/laptop/tablet to do it on and somewhere quiet to work. Make sure notifications are turned off and you have the latest web browser installed.

"I did prepare well for it, and...I was a PCSO before, so I did have a little bit of insight as to what to expect. I don't necessarily think you have to have been a PCSO in order to have succeeded in that. The questions are open to interpretation: just general day-to-day things you come across (you help people and use your initiative day-to-day anyway, whether this be in education, previous work or at home)." James Perry, Police Constable (PCDA).

You will be invited to attend a face-to-face meeting/interview with members of the force to talk about yourself and your motive for pursuing a career as a police constable. You will also participate in a group discussion to share your opinions on topical news and modern agenda that impact policing. This will differ from force to force, so please refer to their website and the information they send to you.  

Top Tips

1. Know your force: find out as much information as possible about the force you have applied to. What are their values and priorities?
2. Keep up to date with current affairs - what are you views?
3. Write down your ideas of what you may say: why do you want to be a police officer? How do you meet the values of that police force? What are your opinions on current affairs?
4. Interview prep – practice talking aloud, whether this is in front of the mirror, family or friends. You can even record yourself to play it back on a phone or computer.
5. Look presentable – treat this like you would a job interview and be professional.

"Stay on top of what's going on with the current climate and the current conditions of the world. But then, also think back on your own life...not just looking at College of Policing and taking in the information. [Try] to apply it to things you've done in the past or how it could be approached going into the future." Zoe Sherwin, Police Constable (PCDA).

Pre-employment checks will begin if you are successful during the formal discussion. You will complete online vetting forms, a medical questionnaire, and an eyesight test form prior to your checks. The pre-employment checks consist of the following appointments: 

This process takes approximately eight weeks and during that time employment references will be requested and security checks on you and your family members will be conducted.  

Top Tips for Your Fitness Test

1. Train with friends to keep you motivated.
2. Improve your general fitness levels, not just your running capability. Start your training gently and gradually build up over a period of weeks.
3. Train regularly with a consistent schedule and set yourself realistic targets. Monitor your progress - record distances covered, time taken and recovery time.
4. Make use of the free resources: download a bleep test app or video and mark out the 15 meters.
5. Run 15 meters whilst listening to the app or video: if you're ahead of the bleep at 15 meters, wait until you hear it (resume running and adjust your speed). You will need to complete at least 4 shuttles at level 5. 

"For your medical, make sure as soon as you get the forms, you’re sending them to your GP because that is the form that took the longest time to come back. That was the one that I had to wait for and that was the one my application was paused for because they were still waiting for it to get signed. So my advice would be to definitely get that one done and sent off as quick as you can." Alyx Terry, Police Constable (PCDA)

When all stages of the application process have been successfully completed, you will join the Student Police Officer waiting list and will receive a formal offer when the next available cohort commences.   

"The process itself, as you are probably aware, is very long.  You can't really chase it. They do the procesess at the right stages and if you haven't heard anything then it's kind of good news. Until they give you bad news, not hearing anything is qute good." Bradley Snow, Police Constable (PCDA).