How to Become a Police Officer in the UK?

Updated July 4, 2023
6 minutes

Police officers ensure the safety of all citizens, often risking their health and lives. Their work is very responsible and involves a lot of stress. Certainly, not everyone should choose that profession, as it requires really hard work. However, if you dream of working in the police and wonder how to join the police force in the UK, this article is for you!

Skills and Qualifications to Join the Police

As already mentioned, the profession of the police officer is both mentally and physically demanding. Therefore, the potential candidate needs skills such as:

  • stress resistance – this is definitely a necessary feature for law enforcement officers. Many decisions have to be made spontaneously, under the pressure of time and other people. If you are paralysed by stress in such situations, the police may not be for you.
  • physical fitness – this will be checked during the physical tests. You do not have to perform, particularly outstanding athletic feats, but in general physical fitness and performance are police musts.
  • communication skills – a police officer is constantly engaged in obtaining or passing on information to civilians. It is important that he does this in an appropriate manner and that his emotions are adapted to the situation. It is also important that the information is conveyed in a clear and understandable way.
  • respect for the individual – it seems that we should care about this regardless of where we work. However, police officers are judged particularly harshly in this regard and must show extra respect for people.

Requirements

If you think that the skills described above fit your character perfectly and you keep thinking about working in the police, we will now tell you about police requirements in the UK. Make sure to meet all the following:

  • the age of 18 or more
  • have been living in the UK for the last 3 years
  • being a British citizen, a citizen of the European Community (EC) / the European Economic Area (EEA) or a foreign national with indefinite leave to remain in the UK
  • have a Level A level qualification, be a Special Officer who has been discharged from the Independent Patrol Service in the last two years or have served as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for 18 months. 
  • category B driving license

There are also other individual factors that can prevent you from recruiting. These include tattoos that are too provocative in provocative places or problems with financial institutions. It is also clear that you must not have any more serious convictions.

5 Ways to Become a Police Officer

If you want to join the police force, you have at least several options to succeed. Below we describe the 5 most popular ones, thanks to which you will achieve your dream job.

  1. A college course

This method requires you to obtain a Level 2 or Level 3 Public Service Diploma before applying. However, this is not a prerequisite. The requirements for this method of becoming a police officer are:

  • 2 or more GCSE examinations at grades 9 to 3 (A to D) or a Level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSE examinations at grades 9 to 4 (A to C) or the equivalent of a Level 3 course
  1. A university course

Some universities offer a Professional Policing Diploma that you can get before you join the police force. You can also have any degree and apply for:

  • The degree holder programme
  • The Police Now leadership scheme for graduates

You usually need two to three A levels to get a degree or equivalent.

  1. Direct application

Not everyone can take advantage of this method. You need an A level or level three equivalent. Military experience can also be an advantage.

You should send your application to no more than 1 office at a time. If your candidacy is accepted, you will be invited for an interview. You will then be invited to take written tests and aptitude tests. If you pass these, all the necessary examinations will be carried out. You can correct a failed test after 6 months or more. During the procedure, your past will be checked for problems with the law.

If you have previously worked in the police, you can return to your former position by submitting an application. Of course, you will not miss the recruitment process.

  1. Volunteering

The police offer special positions for people who want to gain experience. This is a great opportunity to check whether you are suitable for this job and whether it suits you at all. It is even possible to work as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) and then earn your first money in the police force

  1. Apprenticeship

Anyone can participate in The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), a three-year internship programme. Upon completion, you will receive a degree in professional police practice. The internship programme not only allows you to join the ranks of the police force, but it can also facilitate employment in many government institutions. These include the Ministry of Defence and the National Law Enforcement Agency.

As you can see, you do not need to go to university to become a police officer, and among the many possibilities you will surely find the one that suits you best.

How long does it take to become a police officer? Since there are several paths, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. A lot also depends on whether you manage to pass all the tests in the first term because the corrections take months to complete.

Police Related Jobs

If you are not ready to face events on the street and would like to join the ranks of the police, here are some solutions for you. The police also need people who are responsible for telephone calls, record keeping and receptionists. In this way, you will be in constant contact with the officers, but your tasks will definitely be different from those of the officers. It is also a solution for people who have always wanted to become a policeman but for various reasons are not A-level. Because as you already know, you do need A-levels to be a police officer in the UK.

A police officer career is now waiting for you with no secrets anymore. Go to Gowork.uk to find out everything about potential employers!