The initial training programme is 12 weeks. Accommodation is made available at the college for all new recruits however this is optional and those residing within reasonable travelling distance of the College may elect to return home each night at their own expense. Consideration will be given to individual circumstances subject to daily attendance.
You are paid from your date of appointment, which includes your training period.
Everyone who applies has to serve as a Police Constable first. Your probationary period lasts for two years, after which you can apply to undertake a more specialised role, or begin the promotion process to progress through the ranks.
There is a mandatory eyesight standard for Police Officers, you can find out more here: http://www.scotland.police.uk/recruitment/police-officers/selection-process/. We would encourage you to discuss the standard of your eyesight with an optician to ascertain whether it meets the required standard, prior to application.
Yes - colour vision deficiency is not a barrier to entry, albeit each case will be reviewed on an individual basis by a specialist.
People with Type 1 Diabetes are able to apply, but each application is treated on a case-by-case basis and you will be assessed by the Force Medical Advisor.
You can join the police if you suffer from asthma however it does depend on the severity of your condition. The medical is done at the end of the recruitment process and the Force Medical Advisor undertaking the medical will make an assessment on each individual on whether they are medically fit to join.
At the time of application, you are requested to submit a posting preference form. This allows you to choose the 3 Divisions or areas in which you would prefer to work. We require to post newly appointed police officers to areas where vacancies exist. Whilst we cannot guarantee you will be posted to one of your 3 preferred locations, we will endeavour to accommodate your choices where possible.
There is no tenure for post for operational police officers and there are opportunities to re-locate if you so wish. You can apply for a transfer across Scotland after your probation period.
All applications for part time/flexible working will be considered however this does not guarantee that all requests will be accommodated. Each application will be considered on its own merits and any agreed arrangements will not necessarily set precedent for future applications.
Tattoos do not prohibit you becoming a Police Officer, however tattoos on your face, or those visible above the collar line when in uniform are not acceptable. In addition, tattoos which could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues are not acceptable.
The process starts with the completion of an application form which you can download from the 'Application' section in the Police Scotland website recruitment tab. Unfortunately we do not accept CVs . You must complete all sections of the form and disclose all material information. Please note that failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.
You have to be 18 to be appointed as a Police Officer or a Special Constable, but you can apply from 17 and a half. There is no upper age limit. Please also see the website in related information for more details on eligibility and the application process
A driving licence is not an essential criteria to apply to become a police officer.
There are no entrance qualifications required, you just need to pass the Standard Entrance Test.
The recruitment process takes approximately six to nine weeks, from receipt of your application form to the assessment centre and the final stages of the process.
Please see the website in Related Information for further information on becoming a police officer.
Yes, the vetting form is done at the same time as the application form along with the posting preference form and the equality and diversity monitoring form. All four documents should be submitted together.
Your application can be completed by computer or handwritten. If handwritten, it must be legible. We would prefer your application to be completed and submitted electronically.
Police Scotland look for applicants with good communication skills, confidence, personal effectiveness and good team working skills. For further information please see the link in Related Information.
Police Scotland welcome applications from those leaving/retiring from the Armed Forces as they have found that these applicants have a lot of transferable skills which are suitable to the role of a Police Officer. Anyone from the Armed Forces who is interested in becoming a police officer please see the link in Related Information to Police Scotland recruitment.
There is a fitness test. You either have to do the multi-stage 'bleep' test, or a mile and a half run. You will find all the information about the fitness test at the Police Scotland website in Related Information.
The initial fitness test is very early in the process, and there is normally a final fitness test at the end, depending on how long your application has taken.
The interviews look at slightly different competencies and the number of competencies is greater at the stage two interview. The second interview is not a standalone part of the selection process; it contributes to a whole day of assessment.
There are no role play exercises, but there are three practical exercises where you are required to work as part of a team. These give you lots of opportunities to demonstrate your skills to us, to allow us to assess your suitability for the role.
Have a look at the competencies on the Police Scotland recruitment website and think how you can evidence these skills. The area where people fall down in the interview is when they do not structure the answer based on the competency. Also ensure that you say what you did when asked to provide an example, not what others did. A good model to follow when answering is the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action and Result). See the link in Related Information.
If you fail the fitness test or are unsuccessful at interview/assessment centre, you can reapply after a period of 6 months has passed from the date of rejection. There is no limit on the number of times you can apply. The exception to this is the Standard Entrance Exam which you only have 3 opportunities to pass.
Financial checks are carried out as part of the vetting process as you have to show your finances are being managed. This is necessary as police officers are in a privileged position with regard to access to information and could be considered vulnerable to corruption.
We try to give four week's notice of appointment and your training would start immediately on appointment. Your posting begins at the end of your 12 week training course.
Recruitment is ongoing at the moment, but if at a later date the recruitment drive does close, Police Scotland will give two weeks notice on their website, please see the link in Related Information.
The test subjects are information handling, numeracy and language and you must achieve passes in all three. As there are only three papers available, you will have three opportunities to pass each paper but you cannot sit the same paper twice. As a result, the maximum number of times you can sit each paper is three.
You can find practice tests on the Police Scotland website, please see the link in Related Information for details.
We would encourage you to re-apply, particularly if you are enthusiastic and keen to join the Police. If you have previously failed at any stage in the process, you have to wait six months before re-applying. The current Standard Entrance Test is currently under review and when this review is complete, information with regard to any new process will be updated on our website.
Training takes place at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, near Stirling. Please see the link in Related Information to learn more about recruitment with Police Scotland.
You have to complete a two-year probationary period before you can apply for any specialist post, including Roads Policing or the Dog Handling Unit. However, you can learn a lot from being on the beat and it is invaluable as you progress through the service.
Yes, having convictions does not necessarily preclude you from applying, but you must declare any previous convictions and any involvement you have had with the Police on your vetting form.
Yes, you can still apply, and each set of circumstances will be looked at on an individual basis. We need to assess factors such as the relationship of the person to you and the nature and circumstances of the offence.
New Police Officers can have beards, as long as it is kept trimmed, neat and tidy.
