Eligibility requirements

At the time of application, candidates must:

• be a British citizen or a citizen of a country that is a member of the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals who are resident in the UK and free from restrictions are also eligible to apply. After 30 June 2021, nationals of the EEA or Switzerland will also need to provide evidence that their stay is free from restrictions
• have resided in the UK for three consecutive years immediately prior to application
• you can apply from 17 years old, although you will not be able to commence employment until you are 18 years old
• possess a full UK manual driving licence
• not have applied to become a police constable and been unsuccessful at any stage of the Police National Assessment process in the last three months with any force
• be physically fit, meet the police recruitment medical standards and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18-30, although if your BMI falls outside of this range, this may not preclude you
• meet the police eyesight standards
• not have tattoos on your face or the front of your neck, or any which could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues. Other visible tattoos such as on the back of the neck, forearms and hands, will be permissible as long as they are deemed to be appropriate and inoffensive, maintaining a professional image. These will be assessed on a case by case basis
• ideally, not have a criminal record. Any previous criminal convictions or cautions (including those spent), fixed penalty notices, traffic offences or any involvement with the police must be declared
• have Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, such as GCSEs or iGCSEs at grade C or 4 (or above) or Functional Skills Level 2 and Key Skills Level 2 (Communication and/or Literacy)
• have Level 3 qualifications in any subject(s) that equate to 64 UCAS points (these could be from your A Levels, Level 3 Diplomas, Level 3 Apprenticeship, NVQs or an International Baccalaureate, to name a few). You can also apply if you have a full Level 4 qualification or a full Level 5 qualification, such as a degree, in a non-policing related subject.

You will need to attach copies of all relevant certificates to your application.

If you are unsure which route to policing you are eligible for, please take a look at the routes to policing document below.