The application process
You have to pass all the stages of the recruitment process before you can join Leicestershire Constabulary as a police officer. The whole process can take up to a year depending upon your circumstances. It is important that you fully take into account the considerable amount of time that you will need to invest in the process to be successful. Our standards are high and on average only one in 10 applicants get through.
Stage 1: Check out eligibility
People interested in becoming a Police Officer should first check their eligibility by reading our Am I eligible section. If you do not meet any of these criteria it is likely your application form will be rejected.
Stage 2: Attend a Recruiting Information Seminar and sit a suitability test
Attend a Recruiting Information Seminar. Information on the next one can be found by visiting our events page. If the date for the next recruiting information seminar is not shown (please do not confuse these with Beat Surgeries or other types of events) then keep checking this page regularly for updates.
We usually hold these every six to eight weeks and, depending on the size of the venue, it may only be advertised for a short period of time. We do not normally give dates of seminars over the phone unless the request is under reasonable adjustments. You do not need to book a space but it is important that you arrive early as places will be allocated on first come basis.
Officers from the Recruiting Department, and newly appointed officers, will be available to explain the role of a police officer in more detail, and to answer any questions you may have at the end of the two hour presentation. They will also be able to give you practical guidance on the application form, which you will receive only if you pass the suitability test. Usually the test consists of maths and spelling questions. You can re sit the suitability test as often as you like by attending a recruitment seminar.
Application forms to successful candidates are posted usually within 48 hours of sitting the suitability test.
Stage 3: Complete a competency based application form
Only application forms supplied by Leicestershire Constabulary will be accepted. The application form has been carefully designed nationally and has been pre-tested to ensure it is fair to everyone. We are looking for evidence of the qualities you already have or may develop to enable you to carry out the role of a police officer.
Your answers here will be used to decide whether your application will proceed to the next stage. It is important therefore to think carefully about your answers. Each competency question asks you to provide detailed examples of situations from your recent past experience. The majority of people find the competency questions in the application form most difficult to answer. Listed below are the typical reasons why people fail the application form stage. Applicants are advised to read this information as it may assist them to complete the form to the required standard.
You must give specific examples of what you did or said on a given occasion. It is important that we see in as much detail as possible, exactly how you behaved. Generalisations about what you would do and what you have done on a number of previous occasions will not score. In all parts of the application please write clearly and concisely. Your spelling, grammar, handwriting and punctuation are assessed. You could be rejected if your written work is difficult to understand, spelling is poor, or if you have more then 10 spelling or grammatical errors.
Write your answers in draft before completing your application. The application must be all your own work. Be honest and expect to be questioned on any answers that you give. Due to this form being competency based, there would be no benefit in seeking guidance and advice from, for example, a police officer who is not trained in marking applications.
Read and follow all the instructions that accompany the application form and ensure you return the application form within the time stated on the covering letter. You should normally get the results in approximately four weeks from the closing date.
Stage 4: Fitness test and assessment centre workshop
It is a good idea to prepare for your fitness test as soon as possible. Find out what the test involves. You may also be invited to an assessment centre workshop which will give you more information on what is involved at the assessment centre and how to plan for it.
Stage 5: Assessment Centre
The Assessment Centre is a series of written and verbal tests designed to determine skill and education level. The day will be demanding and will last approximately five hours. The assessment day is likely to be at NPIA, Ryton-on-Dunsmore near Coventry.
You will be assessed on competencies identified as being essential to the role as a police officer. These are:
- Effective Communication
- Customer and Community Focus
- Personal responsibility
- Team working
- Respect for diversity
- Resilience
- Problem solving
The exercises you will undertake are as follows:
- A competency-based interview lasting 20 minutes - four questions will be asked giving you five minutes per question.
- Two written exercises - you will have 20 minutes per exercise.
- Four interactive (role play) exercises - 5 minutes per role-play.
- Numerical test lasting 12 minutes.
- Verbal Logical Reasoning test lasting 25 minutes.
- Respect for Diversity will be assessed in all exercises.
The overall pass mark is 60%, however you also need to meet the pass mark in the three main categories of Respect for Race and Diversity, Written Communication and Oral Communication.
It is important that you thoroughly read the briefing papers sent out with confirmation of your place, as they contain all of the information necessary to pass the assessment centre stage. If you fail to attend the assessment centre on the date allotted, you may not be eligible to re-sit it on another date.
Candidates who have not met the required standard will have to wait at least six months before they can re-sit. After the second unsuccessful attempt, you may be required to wait two years before you can re-apply to become a police officer.
Stage 6: Force interview board
It is a pre-requisite that you attend an interview with a panel of officers before you can join Leicestershire Constabulary. The interview will usually comprise of a panel of two members of the police force and will last approximately 45 minutes where you will be asked competency based questions.
Stage 7: Medical/eyesight/security checks
The next stage is to look at your medical and eyesight with our Force Medical Advisor and Nurse which may involve requesting additional information and tests from your GP.
We reserve the right to postpone or reject your application if this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable length of time. Reasonable adjustments will be considered in light of Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
The Force Medical Advisor will assess and make the ultimate decision. Your security checks will be run at the same time. Security checks are carried out on yourself, partner, close family and anyone else living at your address.
Stage 8: References
If you pass your medical we will request references. The references must cover five years and we will obtain a reference from your current employment after seeking your permission. We may also need to obtain character and/or education references.
Stage 9: Appointment and 26 week placement at DeMontfort University, Leicester
Once you have completed all of the recruitment stages you will be issued with a letter of appointment and information on your initial 26 week, non-residential placement at DeMontfort University where you will undertake a foundation degree.
You will be paid a full salary and all of your fees will be paid. As well as various community based placements, you will be given a number of research based projects to help develop your policing skills.
The whole process up to Letter of Appointment can take up to a year depending upon your circumstances and we will try to keep you updated at each stage and offer guidance whenever we can.
We reserve the right to alter the order of the above stages if required due to operational reasons. You can only apply to one Force at a time. If you fail any stage after receipt of the application form then you will have to wait six months before re-applying.