Eligibility
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and ethnicities. You will need to meet some basic eligibility requirements before you can apply.
Age
You can apply at the age of 18. There is no upper age limit.
Nationality
You must be a UK, EU citizen with EU settled status, a commonwealth citizen or a foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the UK to apply for our police staff roles.
Residency
Residency requirements vary depending on the level of the role and the vetting requirement. To find out the residency requirement for a specific advertised role please see the job advert.
For roles requiring Recruitment Vetting level you must have lived in the UK for the past three years from the date of your application.
For roles requiring Management Vetting level you must have lived in the UK for the past five years from the date of your application.
The exception to both is where you are HMG or British Military Personnel who has served abroad or where you have been overseas as the spouse, partner or dependent of a member of the armed forces posted overseas.
There may also be an exception where there is a gap of up to 12 months, which could include a significant period of time overseas (normally up to one year) without returning to the UK, but intend to return in the future. For example:
- a gap year or similar before or following university
- travelled for a year
- spent time overseas visiting family
This is not an exhaustive list. Please get in touch with us if you think this may apply to you.
Qualifications
For some roles you will need to have specific qualifications. Essential and desirable qualifications are stated in the job Description and Person Specification for each role. Please refer to this to ensure that you satisfy the required criteria.
Health
You will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and, if necessary for the role, attend a medical assessment with our Force Physician.
Previous convictions, cautions and fixed penalties
Certain convictions and cautions will lead to automatic rejection unless there are exceptional circumstances. In particular:
- violence
- dishonesty
- drugs
- serious driving offences (including drink driving)
We will consider other convictions, cautions, reprimands, warnings and fixed penalty notices on a case-by-case basis. Whether an application passes depends on the nature and circumstances of the offence.
Police Checks and Security Vetting are carried out on you and your immediate family. The security service will also carry out checks to verify your identity and background.
Financial status
You will have your financial status checked. You must not have any wilfully undischarged debts (for example County Court Judgements or bankruptcy). This does not include mortgages, hire purchase, student loans or other loans that you are paying off normally.
Your application will be rejected if you have an active County Court Judgement or Voluntary Agreement. If you have been declared bankrupt you will not be eligible to apply until three years from the date of the Certificate of Satisfaction. If you have discharged bankruptcy debts you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction.
Tattoos and piercing
We assess all tattoos and piercings before your application is progressed. Tattoos may preclude you from being recruited, depending on their content and position.
Visible tattoos and other visible body markings are unacceptable if they could reasonably be interpreted as:
- 'Discriminatory, offensive, obscene, indicate attitudes or views (e.g. misogynistic) inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour.'
Careful consideration will be given to any tattoo on the neck, face and /or hands in deciding if it is acceptable. This includes considering the size, nature and prominence of the tattoo.
British National Party (BNP)
If you are a member of the BNP your application will be rejected. If you have previously been a member of the BNP, you may not be eligible for appointment. Your application will be assessed on an individual basis.