Recruiting now via our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Don't have a degree? No worries!
Recruitment is open now to join us as a Police Officer via our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship. To apply click the link below.
You don't need to have a degree to join us, although you will be required to study and obtain a degree in your first three years.
You will be fully funded, paid and supported whilst training.
As a new police officer you’ll follow a three year training plan, learning on the job from experienced colleagues. This will be supported by training from our in-house team. After 37 weeks you’ll reach independent patrol status and when you finish your training you’ll have earned a graduate degree in Professional Policing Practice.
Your starting salary is £23,556 and once you have achieved independent patrol status (approx week 37 from appointment) this will rise to £26,682 and £28,932 in year three. Within seven years of joining the salary will be £43,032.
Being a Force that is as diverse as the communities it serves
Our ability to build trust, understand problems and support our communities across a range of policing matters relies on us having a workforce that is reflective of our communities and all the unique individuals that exist within them. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity within our workforce and to eliminating discrimination.
We are very keen to encourage applications from those that have never considered policing as a career. Representation within our workforce from black and minority ethnic communities and females is currently lower than we want it to be. By improving this we will be better able to serve our local communities and our work place will benefit from all the differences in thinking, points of view, and approaches that diversity brings.
In order to achieve this we are proud to pursue a policy of ‘positive action’. To find out more about this, please click the button below.
Approximate recruitment structure
Eligibility Screening.
This screen checks your eligibility in line with the national recruitment standards. You will be advised at the end of the questionnaire if you have met all the eligibility criteria and then able to progress to the behaviour styles questionnaire. If you are referred as a result of any of your answers, a member of the recruitment team will contact you to let you know the outcome.
In determining any adjustments the force follow the guidance provided by the College Of Policing Selection & Assessments policy on accommodations and reasonable adjustments.
If you require an adjustment to the recruitment process in relation to a Specified Learning Difficulty e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, supporting information in the form of a medical or specialist’s report which provides information regarding your disability/the difficulties you experience should be submitted with your application form.
The video below will give you a step by step guide of what to expect from the new College of Policing’s virtual assessment centre. Once you have watched the video please ensure you read all of the steps below.
Click to see the video
The online assessment process is a staged process that consists of up to four exercises over three stages. The process is broken up as follows:
Stage 2 – Competency-based video interview
Candidates who pass stage 1 are invited to take stage 2 immediately.
You will be asked 5 questions about how you have dealt with specific situations in the past. This is your opportunity to provide some examples of the key competencies and values that are important for police constables. You can use examples from both your work and your personal life.
You will have five minutes for each questions.
Candidates are provided with one minute preparation before each question.
Approximate time to complete: 35 minutes
Stage 3 – Written exercise and briefing exercise
Written exercise – Candidates will be provided with written materials outlining a scenario in the community. They will have various sources of information and will be asked to provide typed written responses to their sergeant in relation to the issues contained in the materials. This exercise lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Briefing exercise – Candidates will be presented with a short brief of a community-based scenario and they will have time to prepare their responses to key questions. The scenario will evolve and additional information will be presented to the candidate for them to consider and respond to. Candidates’ verbal responses to the questions will be recorded. This exercise lasts approximately 60 minutes.
How will you give me my results?
Stage 2: Interview – the content will be reviewed by a qualified assessor. Your result will be communicated to you via email.
Stage 3: Written exercise and briefing exercise – both exercises will be reviewed by a qualified assessor and your result will be communicated to you via email.
The interview is expected to last up to 30 minutes. The questions in the interview are aimed at exploring your values and motivation to join as a Constable, these will be structured against the role profile for a Police Constable based on the Competency Valued Framework. We will also take Biometric Vetting samples.
The Recruitment Team will advise of what is required as your application progresses).
For further information and how to prepare for the fitness test please see the Job Related Fitness Test Information page.
- BMI (Body Mass Index)
- Eye sight test – see Appendices
- Colour vision – see Appendices
- Lung function
- Hearing
You will be asked to complete a confidential medical history questionnaire. You are advised not to pay for your GP to sign these forms until you know you have been successful though the earlier stages. Depending upon your medical history, we may have to contact your GP/ specialist for further information.
Once you have been declared medically fit we will then progress your application to the next stage.
For further information on the national standards please see here.
We will carry out security checks on you and your:
- Spouse/Partner
- Father
- Step father/mother’s partner
- Mother
- Stepmother/father’s partner
- Brothers/sisters (full/half/step)
- Children/children of your partner (only those age 10 years and over)
- Any other adult living at your address
- Financial circumstances – applicants will have their financial status checked
These checks are carried out because Police Officers have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption.
Applicants with outstanding County Court Judgements (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) or who have been registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, will be rejected. If you have discharged bankruptcy debts then you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction with your application. At least three years will need to have passed since the date of discharge.
Applicants with cautions/convictions/reprimands, other than some motoring offences, may not be accepted.
References – We send reference requests to all your previous employers in the last 3 years. If you haven’t been employed for 3 years, we will ask for a character reference or an educational reference.
Drugs Testing – As part of the Vetting process you will be required to undergo drugs testing. All drug testing processes are entirely confidential and only the presence of illegal substances will be disclosed to the Force Vetting Unit (by the third party drug testing laboratory). Prescribed medication, including that for individuals with certain disabilities or individuals that may be transitioning, is not tested for in the process.
Who you will study with
We are working in partnership with The University of South Wales to deliver vocational workplace training that will enable you to be become a fully qualified Police Officer while actively supporting your community. Click here for more information about the academic modules and the course handbook.