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Am I eligible?

Am I eligible to apply for a police staff role?

The following questions are designed to help you find out whether you are eligible to apply for a Police Staff role to Leicestershire Constabulary. Answer the questions honestly to check if you are eligible. Please note this list is not exhaustive and additional criteria may apply.

Leicestershire Constabulary continually strives to protect our communities by reducing crime and anti-social behaviour for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.  It is essential that we continue to recruit the right people to ensure that the quality of service is maintained.  All applicants are subject to a rigorous security checking procedure before appointment. 

Please read carefully the essential vetting criteria given below, which you must meet to be successfully recruited into post. If any of your answers to the questions below is no, your application will be rejected. If you have a question that is not covered below please contact the Recruitment Team.

Nationality - Residency Requirements 

Are you a British Citizen, Commonwealth Citizen, a member of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), Citizen of the Irish Republic or a foreign national who is resident in the UK, free from restrictions? 

Applications will be rejected if an applicant has not been resident for 3 years except where an applicant has been: 

  • Serving aboard in the British Armed Forces
  • Serving aboard in Her Majesty’s Government (HMG)
  • Studying abroad as part of a UK based university course

Identification Check

An identity checking process will be carried out during the recruitment and security checking process.  Applicants will be requested to bring the originals and a photocopy of their ID documents for an identity check from the list below.

British Nationals 

Current full 10 year passport, or two of the following:

  • British driving licence
  • P45
  • Birth certificate - issued within 6 weeks of birth
  • Cheque book and bank card - with 3 statements and proof of signature
  • Credit card - with 3 statements and proof of signature
  • Credit card - with photograph of the individual

Other EEA Nationals 

  • Full EEA passport, or
  • National Identity Card 

Other Nationals

  •  Full passport. 

All Nationals

In addition the candidate should show an official document showing their permanent National Insurance number and Name (required for payroll purposes) ie:

  • P45, or
  • National Insurance Card, or
  • Letter from a Government Agency

Criminal Record 

If you have a criminal record you may still be eligible to join the police service; it will depend on the nature and the circumstances of the offence. Failure to disclose matters will, however, result in your application being terminated.

You must declare all arrests, reprimands, final warnings or other disposals as well as convictions for any past offences (including juvenile, i.e. under 18 years), and any bind-overs imposed by any court. You must include all traffic convictions such as speeding, careless driving and drink driving. 

An application will not be accepted from those who have been convicted or cautioned for a serious offence including:

  • Murder
  • Manslaughter
  • Death by reckless driving
  • Rape
  • Kidnapping
  • Firearms offences
  • Hostage taking
  • Incest with a girl under the age of 13
  • Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or a person who has not consented
  • Indecent assault which constitutes an act of gross indecency
  • Intercourse with a girl under the age of 13
  • The offence of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or property
  • Hijacking or torture
  • Espionage
  • Terrorism
  • Sabotage
  • Treason
  • Actions intended to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means, Or
  • Is or has recently been a member of any organisation which has advocated such activities, or associated with any such organisations or any of its members in such as to raise reasonable doubts about his or her reliability, or is susceptible to pressure or improper influence, e.g. because of current or past conduct, or has shown dishonesty or lack of integrity which throws doubts upon their reliability, or has demonstrated behaviour, or is subject to circumstances, which may otherwise indicate unreliability.  

Police Regulations state that no member of a police force may be a member of the following organisations:

  • The British National Party
  • Combat 18
  • The National Front

 Each application in relation to your past offending history will be considered on its merits. 

Details of any spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (by virtue of the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order1975) or any involvement with civil, military or transport police must be included in an application.

Convictions which will lead to rejection unless there are very compelling circumstances include:

  • Violence
  • Offences involving serious violence of injury including Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and Actual Bodily Harm (ABH)
  • Offences involving unsolicited violence toward others
  • Unlawful possession of weapons, firearms or going equipped to steal
  • Acts of indecency
  • Abuse or neglect of children
  • Public Order offences - involvement in riot, violent disorder, affray, causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress
  • Racially motivated or homophobic offences
  • Dishonesty
  • Interference with the Administration of justice or the investigation of offences
  • Burglary
  • Offences which involve elements or acts of dishonesty, corruption, substantial financial gain or serious loss to anyone including theft, fraud and deception
  • Drugs and driving
  • Serious involvement in drugs including possession of Class A drug (Heroin, morphine) or more than one Class B drug (amphetamines) and/or supplying drugs of any kind
  • Reckless or Dangerous Driving within the last ten years
  • One offence of drink driving or drunk in charge or drugs driving within the preceding ten years
  • More than one offence of drink driving or drunk in charge or drugs driving
  • Other serious motoring offences such as convictions within the last five years of driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident or driving whilst disqualified
  • More than three endorsable traffic convictions (including fixed penalties) within the last five years (for offences on different dates)
  • Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the last five years
  • An applicant's age at the time of an offence and the aggravating circumstances surrounding the offence will all have a bearing in the following cases:
  • Drunk and Disorderly - no more than one offence and only after two years have elapsed following a caution or three years have elapsed following a bind over/conviction
  • Minor drugs offences or substance abuse - no more than one offence and only after two years have elapsed following a caution or three years from conviction
  • Common Assault - no more than one offence as a juvenile or young adult and only after two years have elapsed from end of bind over/ conviction

 We will also want to know whether any of your close family or associates is involved in criminal activity and we will therefore search for any criminal convictions or cautions against your family. You must advise them that these enquiries will be made. The police service cannot disclose the result of these enquiries to you. 

Financial History

Applicants will have their financial status checked. These checks are carried out because police officers and staff have access to privileged information that may make them vulnerable to corruption.
It is important that applicants are not under pressure from undischarged debts or liabilities. This does not mean that sensible management of debts or loans, such as a mortgage will preclude applicants. Applicants who have: 

  • Existing County Court Judgements outstanding against them will be rejected
  • Discharged County Court Judgements will be considered
  • Been registered bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have not been discharged will be rejected
  • Been registered as bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have been discharged will not be considered until three years after the discharge of the debt
  • If you have discharged bankruptcy debts you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction with your application.
  • If you are currently or have previously entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) you will need to declare this and provide information on the current position. 

Sickness and Attendance Record

Applicants should be aware of the force commitment to reduce sickness absence. The current force target is no more than 9 days lost through sickness absence, and fewer than 3 separate absences, in any 12 month period. Please note due regard will be paid under 1995 DDA,  health and safety or pregnancy/maternity related reasons . Do you meet the above attendance targets?