The recruitment process

The first stage involves completing a national application form, which requires you to provide basic personal information, such as your contact details, as well as eligibility information, including your right to work in the UK, any tattoos, disability declaration, and details of any convictions or cautions.

Please answer the questions on the form as thoroughly and accurately as possible.

Disability: Kindly disclose any mental and/or physical disabilities so that we can consider offering reasonable adjustments where applicable.

If you have dyslexia, a medical report will be required. Please attach this report when submitting your application.

After submitting your application, the next step is the SIFT process, which involves a national online shortlisting. This consists of a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and a Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ).

The Situational Judgement Test assesses your judgement and decision-making skills in scenarios similar to those you may encounter as a police constable. It will take approximately 30 minutes, and you will be presented with a variety of situations.

The Behavioural Styles Questionnaire helps determine whether you possess the right attitude and behaviours for the role. It is untimed and usually takes around 20 minutes to complete. You will be given a series of statements and asked to indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each one.

The interview will last approximately 30 minutes and consist of different questions.

It has been designed to assess your motivations and values in relation to the role you have applied for.

Please ensure you bring photographic identification (ID) with you to the interview, such as a passport or driving licence.

The next steps include a medical examination, a five-year reference check, recruitment vetting, and completing a fitness test to level 5.4. You will also undergo DNA and biometric vetting, which involves providing a mouth swab and fingerprints.

Please bring photographic identification (ID) with you to the fitness test, such as a passport or driving licence.

At this stage, you will need to complete a recruitment vetting e-form, which will ask for details about yourself and those you live with. You will also undergo biometric vetting, which involves providing your DNA and fingerprints. Further details will be given at the time.

If you, or any of your associates, have any previous criminal convictions, you must declare these on the vetting form.

Candidates will be provided with a work health questionnaire, which must be completed and submitted directly to the Occupational Health Department. A full medical history must be disclosed, as failure to do so may result in your application being rejected. Please complete the questionnaire carefully and thoroughly – if in doubt, it is better to disclose.

You will be required to complete the bleep test, running between two lines approximately 15 metres apart, in time with a series of bleeps. To pass, you must reach a minimum of level 5.4, which equates to 35 shuttle runs over a period of 3 minutes and 35 seconds.

New Specials will participate in a 15-week blended learning programme, which includes an induction day, distance learning webinars, and face-to-face classroom lessons.

Training occurs in the evenings and weekends: usually 2 nights per week from 6pm-9pm and at least 5 weekends during the 15 weeks.

Attendance at all training sessions is mandatory and may include weekdays. If you are in full-time employment, you may need to book annual leave to attend the training.

During your initial training, you will be assigned a tutor who is a member of staff to assist with any questions you may have.