Police recruitment

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 .

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.

If you are aged between 16 and 18 years old and want to see what life is like as a police officer then you could join the Volunteer Police Cadets Scheme. This scheme is the nationally recognised police uniformed youth group throughout the UK, it inspires the spirit of adventure and good citizenship and encourages young people from all backgrounds to join.

Most police forces offer the scheme. 

For more details see the links in related information and contact your local police force.

Applications can be accepted from the age of 18. There is no upper age limit for applying to the police service, but bear in mind that the normal retirement age is 60 years and that new constable recruits are required to undertake a two-year probationary period.

For specific recruitment queries, you will need to contact your chosen force directly via their 101 number. Please also see the websites in Related Information for more details on eligibility and the application process.

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. 

Your application can be completed by computer or handwritten. If handwritten, it must be legible. We would prefer your application to be completed and submitted electronically.

For specific recruitment queries, you will need to contact the recruitment department of your chosen force directly via the link in Related Information.

Police officers must be able to run for a reasonable distance so as part of your assessment, you will be tested to ensure your fitness levels are high enough.

For specific recruitment you will need to contact the recruitment department of your chosen force directly via the link in Related Information. Also see the links in Related Information for more details on the fitness test and other eligibility requirements.

You will be asked to complete a medical and fitness test. The exact application process can vary between police forces, so this is something you should query with your chosen force by calling 101.

See the links in Related Information for details on the application process and eligibility criteria.