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Q845: How long does the recruitment process take?

Answer

The whole process, from completing the application to a confirmed appointment date, usually takes around 6 months.

After you've sent in your application to be a police officer, a three-step process begins:

Step 1
On receiving your application form, the force that you have applied to will check your eligibility and mark your responses to competency questions (if these are used by the force). If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre (step 2).

Step 2
If you pass the assessment centre, you will then take a fitness test.

Step 3
Next, your references will be checked, you'll undergo a background, security, medical and eyesight checks.

Some forces may choose to run additional assessment stages, such as a second interview.

If you wish to discuss any aspects of recruitment prior to submitting an application form, then you can contact the recruitment department of your local police force online (via the link in Related Information). Alternatively, you can call your local police force via their non-emergency number, 101, and ask the operator to connect you to their recruitment department. 

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Answer

To join the police force you need to fill in an application form supplied to you by your choice of force. The stages are carousel (a test of how you would deal with different situations), medical examination, physical assessment and interview (not necessarily in that order).

The police will carry out background checks and request references and if all these are satisfactory and you have successfully completed all the stages then you will be accepted as police constable.

Each police force recruits individually and for details on any recruitment drive you need to contact the force you are interested in joining.

For further advice on how to become a police constable see related website .

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Answer

You must be a police officer and have two years of service in the police in order to apply to become a dog handler. Your home is checked to see if it is suitable for a police dog, namely off road parking and enough space in the garden to house two kennels. You will then have to successfully complete a suitability course to determine whether you could handle a police dog.

The role of dog trainer within police forces has recently opened to non-police officers in some police forces. However, for the present time the majority of the trainers will be police officers. To become a dog trainer for the police service you must have considerable experience in training working dogs and possess either the Home Office Instructors certificate or the ability to gain the certificate. You would ideally possess some type of teaching certificate and have a proven record of teaching.

For more information on becoming a dog trainer, please contact your local police force.

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Answer

You can apply to join the police as an officer or special constable at the age of 17, although you will not be appointed until aged 18. The recommendation from the Home Secretary and the Association of Chief Police Officers is a minimum 18 years for police community support officers. There is no upper age limit. 

See websites in related information for more details on joining the police.

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You will be required to have obtained certain qualifications and/or experience before you can apply to become a police officer. Some forces will ask that you hold a level 3 (or higher) qualification, a Certificate in Knowledge of Policing and/or experience in a relevant policing or policing related role.

For specific recruitment queries, you will need to contact your chosen force directly via their 101 number or online contact form. Also, see the websites in related information for more details on recruitment eligibility and the application process.

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Having a criminal record is not automatically a bar to joining the police. It would depend on what you were convicted of, what sentence you received, how old you were and how long ago it was.

However, you would have to declare any convictions and each case would be considered individually.

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Question

Q845: How long does the recruitment process take?

Answer

The whole process, from completing the application to a confirmed appointment date, usually takes around 6 months.

After you've sent in your application to be a police officer, a three-step process begins:

Step 1
On receiving your application form, the force that you have applied to will check your eligibility and mark your responses to competency questions (if these are used by the force). If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre (step 2).

Step 2
If you pass the assessment centre, you will then take a fitness test.

Step 3
Next, your references will be checked, you'll undergo a background, security, medical and eyesight checks.

Some forces may choose to run additional assessment stages, such as a second interview.

If you wish to discuss any aspects of recruitment prior to submitting an application form, then you can contact the recruitment department of your local police force online (via the link in Related Information). Alternatively, you can call your local police force via their non-emergency number, 101, and ask the operator to connect you to their recruitment department. 
 
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