Selection Process for Police Officers
It's important our officers reach a certain standard and quality - and that we can assess them to make sure this is the case. Part of this is, of course, identified during our interviews with you and your fitness test - and part is assessed during the Standard Entrance Test.
The selection process can be broken down into stages as follows:
Application Form
Your application starts with the completion of the application form. We do not accept CV's and it is vitally important that you complete all sections of the form honestly. You must disclose all material information. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected. If you are unsure about anything then please do contact us with your concerns.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses you should also submit a visual accuracy form to be completed at your expense by your optician. A pdf of the visual accuracy form is included at the bottom of this page.
You can download an application form which you can save and complete on your own computer and either email or post it to us.
Candidates who have any concerns regarding the character of their friends, associations or relationships they have with others are required to highlight the details of such individuals on the form which is contained within the application form pages of the recruiting web-site. A letter outlining further details is also included. All candidates must sign, date and submit the form even if they select that they do not have any such concerns about the character of their friends, associations or relationships with others.
Please be aware that it will take more than a first class stamp to post the form. Forms with incorrect postage may not be delivered.
On receipt, your application form is sifted to ensure that you meet the entrance criteria which if okay will lead to you being invited to sit the police Standard Entrance Test (SET).
Standard Entrance Test + Initial Fitness Assessment
Standard Entrance Test
This test is made up of three papers. There are 3 different versions of the test.
Should you fail the test you will be able to resit in 3 months. If you fail it again at this point then you would have to re-apply in 6 months from that date.
The test covers
- language
- numbers
- information handling
To help you get ready for the test, we've created sample papers for you to practice with. To find them, scroll down to the bottom of this page where there is a list of pdf documents you can download. If you prefer, we can send them to you. Please call 01355 566300 in that case.
Initial Fitness Assessment
Immediately after the SET papers have been marked, those applicants who pass all 3 papers will undergo an initial fitness assessment. This assessment will be based on the Scottish Police Service National Fitness Standard.
Prior to declaring you are fit to undertake the fitness assessment, your body mass index (BMI) will be checked by our recruiting staff. If your BMI is not between 18-30 (inclusive) then you will not be permitted to undertake the initial fitness assessment.
Other Ways to Get to Grips with the Standard Entrance Test
Access Courses
If you're thinking about applying, an access course will help you get ready for the Standard Entrance Test. You'll learn about careers with the police, develop core skills in communication and numeracy, and develop your analytical, writing and research skills.
Completing an access course doesn't automatically guarantee entrance into the police, but it can help you be well prepared for the application process.
Find out more from:
Cardonald College , www.cardonald.ac.uk
James Watt College , www.jameswatt.ac.uk
Cumbernauld College , www.cumbernauld.ac.uk
Clydebank College , www.clydebank.ac.uk
A few other colleges are also considering running access courses. Details will be posted here as they become known to us.
Additional Help
Help may also be available from the local authority where you live through their Literacy and Numeracy Departments. Further information can be obtained from calling them direct or via the Big Plus campaign.
Dyslexic Candidates
We are committed to making our selection processes and facilities as accessible as possible for all applicants and employees. If you have, or think you may have dyslexia, you can contact a member of our Diversity Recruitment Team on 01355 566513/566359 who will be able to provide further guidance and assistance. We also provide the application form in a range of different formats to suit individual needs. You can also contact them at:
recruiting.diversity@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk
If you would like to know more about dyslexia, visit Dyslexia Scotwest at www.dyslexiasw.com
Interviews
The next phase of the process will be interview based. There will be two interviews to undergo which are described below. You must pass one to move onto the other. It is vitally important that you are well prepared for these interviews as they will thoroughly test your commitment and the other key skills that are required to become a good and effective police officer. Your attitude to equality and diversity issues will also be tested at every stage of the process.
Initial Interview
The first of the interviews is called the initial interview. It is conducted by two members of the recruiting team at the FT & RC. This interview will be used to validate your application and explore your commitment and other key skills.
Vetting
Following successful completion of the initial interview you will be subject to vetting. This will be carried out by the Force Vetting Unit, which is independent of the recruiting department.
It is crucial that all candidates disclose any previous convictions or involvement with the police on their application form. This includes tickets for road traffic offences such as speeding or parking tickets. Failure to do so will almost certainly result in the application being rejected as it would be considered an integrity issue.
All candidates and other people who are mentioned on the form are subject to the vetting procedures. It is therefore important that candidates communicate this fact to other family and relatives who appear within the form. Please see the Police Officer FAQ section of the website for further information.
All the relevant references will also be taken up at this point and the candidate file will be fully reviewed prior to being offered a final interview.
Final Interview
The last interview is known as the final interview. It is very much a formal interview, usually conducted by the chief inspector or inspector from the Recruiting Department along with a visiting senior police officer. This interview is designed to pull everything together and challenge your views and opinions on a variety of issues to ensure that you are ready to become a police officer.
What happens next?
The last couple of hurdles to overcome are an in-depth medical and a final fitness test - which again is based on the Scottish Police Service National Fitness Standard.
On Monday 18 May 2009, Strathclyde Police introduced pre-appointment substance misuse testing for all new candidates to the regular and special constabularies and for all transferees to the Force. This procedure will take place at the final fitness test stage of the recruitment process. Further details can be obtained by contacting the Recruitment Department.
Following completion of this, you will be held in a pool of candidates until such time as we are in a position to offer you an appointment. This appointment will be conditional and is subject to the relevant final checks being made upon you.
The entire selection process is designed to be challenging and by its very nature can be time consuming. The length of time to complete the process will vary according to the prevailing conditions in terms of recruiting. You will, however, be kept up to date with your progress at every stage of the process.
You must notify us of any changes that may affect your application immediately. That could include things like a change of address, getting married, or being stopped for speeding. Failure to disclose this information at the appropriate time could have a detrimental effect on your application.