The recruitment process

Make sure you read the application form carefully and provide full answers to all the questions. You may find our application advice and tips useful when completing your application to understand what information we will need from you to progress your application.

Once we have received your application, we will check it against the role criteria. If you are eligible to work for Kent Police, your application will move on to the next stage where your application will be assessed. We will check and score the evidence you have provided in your application form against the criteria detailed on the candidate specification.

If your application is unsuccessful at this stage, we will contact you by email to let you know.

At this stage you will be invited to attend an interview. The interview will last approximately 45 minutes and will be conducted in a formal interview style. It will involve competency based questions around the same criteria as detailed in the candidate specification and we will look to find out how you would perform in the job that you have applied for. You will also complete some practical exercises which are designed to test your ability to use your questioning skills, listening skills, decision making and IT skills. This is part of the interview process and smart dress is expected.

We would also suggest you look at other sections of our website for information on our values and force priorities.

Additional support

Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process by emailing [email protected] stating ‘Application support and adjustments’ in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833.

Where appropriate, we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable to do so.

If you are successful at interview, we will send you a conditional offer of employment together with details of the next steps. This offer will be subject to security, health and reference checks. If you are currently employed, please do not hand in your notice of resignation.

A health declaration form will be sent to you for completion which our Health Services team will screen. It is important that you complete the form accurately and do not withhold any information. In some cases they may need further information (for example from doctors or specialists) and you will be medically pended while this is being obtained. The Equality Act 2010 covers all positions in Kent Police. If you have a disability, adjustments will be made if it is reasonable to do so.

Before anyone joins Kent Police we need to undertake some vetting checks to identify and assess any identified risks including criminal records and credit reference checks. To help us do this we ask you to complete a detailed vetting form which asks for details of your family members (parents, partner, children and siblings) and any criminal associates. You must let anyone whose details you have provided know that they will be looked into as part of your pre-employment checks. Legislative constraints mean that we are unable to disclose the results of enquiries on third parties.

We will also ask you to disclose financial information such as outstanding debts, CCJs etc. We will run a credit reference check on you. Police staff have access to privileged and highly sensitive information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption, so it’s important for us to understand your financial situation.

View further vetting guidance.

If successful, you will receive a formal offer of employment. Please do not resign from any existing post until you have received the formal offer. We will then discuss start dates for your exciting new career and look forward to welcoming you to our team!