Police officer

Did you know that you have to be over 18 1/2 years old to apply to be a police officer? This means that you are unable to apply when you leave school.

You do not need any specific qualifications when you apply. However, you will have to pass certain tests to show that you have a good standard of English and maths.

If you are currently at school and are not sure which subjects, exam results or further education courses will help you, the best advice is to try and take your studies as far as you can. This lets you keep your options open and will help you if you decide to apply in the future.

Ideally you should also have passed your driving test when you apply.

 

Reasons why you couldn't police

There are some reasons why you may not be able to join the police force which have nothing to do with qualifications or skills. These things are a set of rules known as 'eligibility criteria', they cover things like:

• Your eyesight
• Which country you were born in (if not in the United Kingdom)
• Tattoos
• Criminal convictions.

It's a good idea to check the details of these rules first, because they might mean that you are unable to become a police officer, and you may need to think about another career instead.

The Police Could You website includes information about 'eligibility criteria' and lots more.

 

Getting involved

If you apply to become a police officer, you will need to show that you have good communication skills and you can work well with people. Getting involved with your local community can help with this.

If you are not already involved you could join a youth club, a volunteer organisation or maybe take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Working anywhere where you deal with customers face to face is also a good way to get valuable experience so you may want to consider getting a weekend job in a shop.

 

Want to know more?

Once you get to the point where you are serious about applying, it's a good idea to try to speak to people currently in the role of police officer, particularly those who have recently joined the force.

Ask a police officer you meet on the street about their experiences, what they do and advice on how to apply, they will be more willing to help.

In the meantime, why don’t you read the police officer profile to get an understanding of what it’s like to be a police officer and the training involved to become one or visit the Police Could You website - that is a good information point for what it means to work as a police officer.