Advice needed on how to get into the police

[Petrolhead95]

Basically I've wanted to be in the police force since I can remember and with my 18th birthday coming up, I can finally sign up to be recruited. I could use some advice on what I'm getting into e.g do I need an qualifications, is there any special skills I need?

Any advice would be welcome!

Cheers, PH95.

[rog007]

Assume you've read http://policerecruitment.homeoffice.gov.uk/
, made enquiries on your local Force's website to see how they manage the recruitment process (or elsewhere if you're looking to move too) and have popped down to your local station to ask if you can have 10 minutes with a copper for a quick chat? Other than that, get fit (BMI is measured) and be prepared to describe in detail and compelling prose why they should pick you and not one of the other 600 hopefuls.

Good luck!

[DaGuv]

Firstly I would look at which force you want to join. It's not good at the moment as a lot are not recruiting at all. The Met maybe though. I would suggest becoming a special constable or even a pcso. These are the best ways to get in at the moment.

[Petrolhead95]

Cheers for the comments. I think I'll contact my local and talk to a PO about it!

[98elise]

Very difficult at the moment. My sister has been trying to join for years. She has a law degree + a masters, and shes been a special for many years.

[JungleJim]

My brother wanted to be a policeman at about the age of 20/21. Applied to Essex Police who rejected him on the basis of not enough life experience.

He went away and got a job as a civilian in a police station and then was successful with an application to the Met. Even then I think it was nearly three years between successful interview and a place on the training course.

So on a survey of one - go away and get a bit of life experience first

[B17NNS]

Lots of things you can practice prior to applying to give you a head start at interview.

Borrow a white van with black back windows and hide on the grass verge just after a Gatso.

When answering the phone, if your mates ask you to come out say no you're busy but offer a crime number by way of recompense.

Put a picture of one of your bks as your Facebook profile picture.

If you're not getting your way in a conversation use a batten, the person disagreeing with you soon comes round to your way of thinking.

[Sparta VAG]

Recruitment processes are slowly changing and as recruitment is generally frozen, it's not quite clear what exactly the entry route will be once the police start to recruit again. However:

You will more than likely have to have A-levels, and possibly some kind of degree (TBC)

The only way in is likely to be through either the Special Constable or PCSO route, with all future recruitment coming from there. You'll probably also have to obtain some kind of vocational type qualification as you do your Special Constable training.

[ED209]

Now the strting salary is going to be £19000 are you still interested? (about 2k of that will go in pension costs too)

[broken biscuit]

Suspect that in the next few years, there will end up being an increase in recruitment to replace the disheartened cops who are jumping ship. Old soaks are staying to ride it out for their pensions, those of us with less time are seriously weighing up the alternatives. Unfortunately, there are loads of people seeing the glamourous side of the job, keen to do it for the right reasons, who will do it however the pay and conditions are screwed. For a yr or two anyway, until they become as cynical as me!

Knowing what I do now, I would not do it again. It has its highs and lows, as with every job, but for £21k on the street, is it worth being sworn at, assaulted, threatened, knowing that Government and senior ranks will seek to villify rather than support you. Working 24-7 roles destroy lives- I am currently helplessly watching my marriage fall apart around me, powerless to stop it, and I know that the job I do and the shifts I work has made a more than significant contribution to this. Police Office divorce rates are astronomical, infidelity is rife and the average life expectency of a retired cop is something like 10yrs.

[chrisgtx]

broken biscuit said:

Suspect that in the next few years, there will end up being an increase in recruitment to replace the disheartened cops who are jumping ship. Old soaks are staying to ride it out for their pensions, those of us with less time are seriously weighing up the alternatives. Unfortunately, there are loads of people seeing the glamourous side of the job, keen to do it for the right reasons, who will do it however the pay and conditions are screwed. For a yr or two anyway, until they become as cynical as me!

Knowing what I do now, I would not do it again. It has its highs and lows, as with every job, but for £21k on the street, is it worth being sworn at, assaulted, threatened, knowing that Government and senior ranks will seek to villify rather than support you. Working 24-7 roles destroy lives- I am currently helplessly watching my marriage fall apart around me, powerless to stop it, and I know that the job I do and the shifts I work has made a more than significant contribution to this. Police Office divorce rates are astronomical, infidelity is rife and the average life expectency of a retired cop is something like 10yrs.

Agree with that,not that I'm in the force,or the 'service' as they like to call it,but as a fellow public service worker who has a lot to do with them,I wouldn't want to do it for all the tea in china(which would probably be a sackable racist phrase).
Poor pay,crap shift hours,idiot management,reams of pointless ass covering paperwork,no back up,cps idiocrasy,abuse,assault,dealing with the great unwashed,pointless targets,watching targets being 'manipulated' for the politicians.
Sorry if I'm a sour puss,but what was a good job has now been ruined,shame.as we need a well well-trained,clever,helpful,effective police force,who are happy in their job.