The Police Application Thread

[Burnsy2023]

Right I know a few people on here are currently going through the process or either becoming a regular or special constable, so the purpose of this thread is to share information about the process, our progress and talk of our future work.

Before we start this, this thread is not for police bashing or talk of police brutality. This is about trying to understand what daily policing is all about and become informed of what the police do on a day to day basis. Therefore I'd appreciate input from serving officers such as the magical Von Smallhausen

So, I'll start by saying that I'm in the very early stages of the process. I've submitted the application and am now awaiting to see if I've passed the paper sift and a PIRT date.

Before anyone starts I am aware an ASP isn't a banhammer and I'm not going to wave it around as such

So who else here is thinking about this or actually in the process?

 

[Burnsy2023]

I still need to send my application form off, one of the girls at work who does training for the police is having a look over it then I can finalise it and away it goes!

Reg or special? What force?

 

[Burnsy2023]

I've been thinking about joining the police for years.. I guess I'm a bit over the hill though now. Good luck mate

I'm sure you're not. If you have 4 hours a week to spare look at becoming a special

 

[Burnsy2023]

All the life examples they wanted had never happened to me. I take it as a good thing but it did seem to me the application was geared towards people that had been involved in a few more heated discussions with people

That's interesting, because Hampshire's competency questions were:

What is the role of a constable? When have you shown a high level of customer service? When have you identified with people of a different age/background? When have you shown problem solving skills?

So those questions, although not easy to answer weren't that bad

 

[Burnsy2023]

Burnsy, and others who have applied - how about posting some information about the application process? It's often things like these that put some people off.

Ok, but bear in mind this is Hant's specific:

The first step is the application. You can get one sent to you, just Google your police force website. This has general questions about you and your history. You also have some 'competency' questions where you basically have to write a mini essay of when you have done a specific task.

Step two is an assessment day (PIRT) where you have a physical activity (a beep test, which is basically a shuttle run) and some simple numeracy and literacy test.

Next you have an interview, just so they can address any concerns and get to know you properly.

Fourth is a medical and eye sight test. If you pass all this you go onto training.

 

[Burnsy2023]

I've been considering this recently, but as far as I'm aware isn't the waiting list and process stupidly long? If I'm not mistaken, the police were/are quite heavy on the old positive discrimination aren't they?

As for discrimination, that depends on force. Regular waiting lists can be quite lengthy, but again it's all specific to where you are.

 

[Burnsy2023]

have been in the police 4 years and am a tutor for probationers in there 10 weeks after training. its a hard job with too much politics, understaffed and very little time to catch up on paperwork but that said theres never a day i dont want to get up and go to work

if i can help anyone with questions, fire away.

What force?
What sort of duties do you do with probationers?
What sort of politics is there?

 

[Burnsy2023]

What sort of duties do you do with probationers? not sure what you mean there mate.

I was trying to see how you ease probationers into the job without putting them in situations they aren't ready for. Or is it straight in at the deep end?

 

[Burnsy2023]

Stage 2 was the PIRT where I had to do 22 sit ups in a minute and the same number of press ups. I then had to run 20 metre shuttles to se series of beeps. Level 9 was the entry level. I then had to do the basic English, Maths and observation test.

I think level 5 is the requirement now.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Check with the individual force but as far as I am aware, as long as your sight is correctable with glasses or contact lenses then you should be OK.

In Hampshire, there is a minimum requirement for uncorrected vision. How that relates to a prescription, I'm not sure.

 

[Burnsy2023]

On their website i don't see no requirements other than an age requirement and to not have a criminal record. Surely there are some grade requirements?

There are no requirements for qualifications as far as I am aware.

 

[Burnsy2023]

When did you send your application and for what force?

Hampshire, about 2 weeks ago They do monthly PIRTs, so hopefully I should get something soon.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Theres a requirement to have no criminal record? I guess it's obvious but still seems a bit unusual to me, not that I have one.

Unusual? What makes you think that?

 

[Burnsy2023]

Cheers for the info Von. Any interesting stories you want to share?

 

[Burnsy2023]

What do you mean? Once you are out of your initial training period you can put in for a basic permit, (just a fish and chip one, normal driving) then you can do a response course.

Force dependant, there can be very long waiting lists, so it may not happen for a year or so after putting in for the course

The waiting lists for even a basic driving ticket can be quite lengthy. As for response, you need to justify why you should have the course if you haven't been attached to a roads policing unit

 

[Burnsy2023]

What would you like to know ?

I'm currently deveopling a mobile phone app to translate several key phrases needed by officers into about 40 different languages.

Have you ever had a time when you just couldn't get through to someone who couldn't speak English?

 

[Burnsy2023]

do you get any exemptions if you are a recent university graduate. i heard you dont have to do all them comptency questions

No all applicants must do the competency questions.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Finally got a letter back from my initial application, my PIRT is on the 13th of June

 

[Burnsy2023]

Indeedy

 

[Burnsy2023]

Well Done Burnsy. The PIRT is rather easy. Theres practice one's on the internet. Wait until you get grilled in the interview like I did haha.

I'm really not bothered about interviews