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Before applying, please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria detailed below.
Nationality and residency requirements
This post is open to:
All applicants (except those who have been serving abroad with the British Armed Forces) must have lived in the UK continuously for the past three years.
Personal requirements
We are currently offering four entry routes into policing. Depending on which entry route you choose, the academic requirements differ. The entry requirements are varied - you don't need a degree to join us, but we do require a minimum standard of education or equivalent work-experience.
Visit entry routes to find out more.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll receive the best possible training and support.
We have agreed intake sizes for each of our entry routes. If oversubscribed, it may be necessary for us to make changes to your entry route to secure your earliest joining date. If this is the case, we will contact you.
Policing is not easy. Not only do you need determination and drive but you also need to be healthy and have a good level of fitness.
Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job.
Find out more about health conditions and the recruitment process as well as the HM government medical standards information which provides full details on which illnesses, injuries and disorders will affect your ability to perform the police officer role.
You will be required to run a 15 metre track in time with bleeps which get increasingly faster. You need to meet level 5.4 on the bleep test to be successful.
If you fail on your first attempt don't worry. You're allowed two more attempts within 12 weeks (second attempt after six weeks, third attempt six weeks later). If after the third attempt you are not successful, we will be unable to continue with your application.
Find out more on the College of Policing website.
All applications will be assessed on an individual basis with issues such as size, nature, prominence, and military context/references taken into consideration.
Tattoos which could reasonably be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive and/or indicate attitudes or views inconsistent with the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour will always be deemed unacceptable and will prevent you from being able to join us.
Whilst not exhaustive, we have the following guiding principles:
If you have a body piercing or other body modification you may be considered eligible to apply.
We'll check it to make sure it doesn't breach the Standard of Professional Behaviour for serving police officers or constitute a risk to health and safety.
Ideally, you shouldn't have a criminal conviction or cautions record. If you do have one, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.
We're unable to confirm whether your convictions record will affect your application before you apply, but will determine this from information provided during the recruitment and selection process.
If you don't tell us about any cautions, investigations or criminal convictions, your application could be refused.
If in any doubt, disclose the information.
For more information please view our vetting guidance.
It's important that you're not under pressure from un-discharged debts or liabilities and that you can manage loans and debts sensibly.
You will not qualify for vetting clearance if you:
For more information please view the vetting guidance.
You will be required to undertake a substance misuse test. If you are using illegal drugs you will be ruled out of the recruitment process automatically.