The Police Application Thread

ScarySquirrel said:
Apparently they just pop round for 20 minutes, have a cup of tea and have a chat. I think it's just to make sure you're not living in a squat or crack den, part of the security vetting I guess.



Were you working on response for this? Get anything interesting or out of the ordinary that he had to deal with?



Thanks dude, and good luck with your application. The interview with a senior officer, at least for me in Kent, was actually nothing to worry about. I just made sure I knew Kent's mission, vision, values and priorities. Most of the questions revolved around those, also integrity was a big topic, as were my own experiences in relation to the core competencies.

I'd highly recommend this book to help you prepare for the assessment centre: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Become-Police-Officer-2016-Version/dp/1909229784
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Fantastic, thanks for that. I am just waiting to see now if I have passed the paper sift.. I have added that book to my collection now as well. :D
 
A quick question to all those with experience.

I'm 34 and currently work in a job that makes me miserable for 50+ hours a week. I'm getting reasonably fit and want to change career to something that is going to challenge and reward me and have been looking towards a career in the police force. I have no criminal record as such - I may have had a caution 15 years ago for criminal damage (possibly) but to be honest I can't even remember if it was official and not that I suppose it matters I wasn't really involved, I was just too young and daft to think about it at the time. I also have tattoos on my upper arms, chest and back, although nothing provocative or garish.

The question is this - is it achievable for someone in my current situation, and what is the best access route? I have a colleague who's partner has just completed her first year of PCSO with a view to becoming a full PC after shes completed her first 2 years. Is this a viable option or would it be best to apply direct for PC when the local forces are recruiting.

That poses another question - I grew up in N.Wales and Cheshire but now live on the Wirral. I don't know which force would be best to apply to and am conscious of the fact that you are limited to the applications you can make.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks for reading :)
 
Alz_D said:
A quick question to all those with experience.

I'm 34 and currently work in a job that makes me miserable for 50+ hours a week. I'm getting reasonably fit and want to change career to something that is going to challenge and reward me and have been looking towards a career in the police force. I have no criminal record as such - I may have had a caution 15 years ago for criminal damage (possibly) but to be honest I can't even remember if it was official and not that I suppose it matters I wasn't really involved, I was just too young and daft to think about it at the time. I also have tattoos on my upper arms, chest and back, although nothing provocative or garish.

The question is this - is it achievable for someone in my current situation, and what is the best access route? I have a colleague who's partner has just completed her first year of PCSO with a view to becoming a full PC after shes completed her first 2 years. Is this a viable option or would it be best to apply direct for PC when the local forces are recruiting.

That poses another question - I grew up in N.Wales and Cheshire but now live on the Wirral. I don't know which force would be best to apply to and am conscious of the fact that you are limited to the applications you can make.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks for reading :)
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The criminal damage caution is unlikely to cause you an issue being so long ago, but make sure that you declare it on any vetting application with as much detail as you can remember.

Tattoos vary by force about how strict they are. You may need to send photos to HR as part of any recruitment process.

As for the best route, the police recruitment process is different to most other industries in regard of the competencies they look for and how they assess that. The best way to understand these processes is to know what they're after and you only really get an appreciation of this from the inside. Many people do become PCSOs or Specials before becoming a PC, obviously, if you have the spare time, a Special is doing the role of a PC, a PCSO has a different job. The advantage of being a Special is that you really get to know if you can do the job full time. It's not easy and certainly not for everyone, even people who were at first set on the idea.

Most of Hampshire's student PCs for this year are internal applicants - PCSOs, Specials, and other staff are about 85% of the people accepted.
 
Well did the assessment center last Tuesday... Wasn't *as bad* as I thought it would be, I actually found the report writing the hardest bit. Getting told you have 5 minutes left and you haven't put forward a further action to take, hence fast writing ensues.. Hopefully I get above the 44% here.. Hand writing may have not been the best towards the end :(.

Role plays I don't think where to bad, could have maybe asked a few more probing questions, but feel I did OK.

Even after being told results don't get sent to the force until Friday, I've checked my email every bloody hour, I'm more nervous about receiving my results than the test center.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Were you working on response for this? Get anything interesting or out of the ordinary that he had to deal with?
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Sorry for late reply.

It was a steady away 10 weeks but there was one job where we had to force entry to a premises with a concern for safety for a female with MH issues.

She kicked off big time and it was the first time he had faced a violent person. Credit to him though as he did well. He did get a shock in the hospital with her though as she grabbed a paramedics arm to take a bite and I reacted to it by back handing her across the face. I take no pleasure in using force, especially on females, but I couldn't stand and watch her take a chunk out of the medic's arm. He didn't think you could use such force on a female.

Work response, yes.
 
Well that's AC passed, very happy with passing on my first go. Now for the vetting, shouldn't be an issue always been a good boy aha.

I know the answer to this will probably be "how longs a piece of string", but for people like Squirrel who have been through it recently, whats the timescale for vetting?
 
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