Police service

The what3words system is a digital geocoding system that enables the emergency services to find someone more easily.

When people call 999 they often struggle to describe their location, what3words helps them say exactly where they are, saving precious response time.

How does it work?

The system works by assigning 3 distinct words for every 3 square metre grid square on a map.

You must have thewhat3words app on your phone (which you can download on both Android and iOS from the link in Related Information). Then in an emergency:

• Find the 3 word address for your current location on the free what3words app. It works offline – ideal for areas with an unreliable data connection.
• Share your 3 word address over the phone to the call handler.
• The emergency service can then coordinate a response directly to the exact location where help is needed.

Please see the official what3words website in Related Information if you wish to know more.

The ranks of police officers are as follows (ending with the highest ranking):

• Constable
• Sergeant
• Inspector
• Chief Inspector
• Superintendent
• Chief Superintendent
• Assistant Chief Constable
• Deputy Chief Constable
• Chief Constable

The rank system within the Metropolitan Police Service is slightly different, and is as follows (ending with the highest ranking):

• Constable
• Sergeant
• Inspector
• Chief Inspector
• Superintendent
• Chief Superintendent
• Commander
• Deputy Assistant Commissioner
• Assistant Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner
• Commissioner

In the helpdesks of many police stations there is a mixture of police staff and police officers and some police stations only have police staff. Members of police staff are highly trained to deal with members of the public so they can answer any query you may have, so it is not necessary to ask to speak to a police officer.

No, the police do not have the resources to run courses for dog owners. However, the SSPCA may run courses and if not, they will have details of private individuals who run classes.

Unfortunately most police forces do not provide this service as standard and if they did it may just be for a special event or occasion.
However any requests can be made via local policing teams or schools that have dedicated police officers.

Every operational incident reported to the police is 'logged' on a computer as a unique record of that event.

Details of the incident, the victim/caller and relevant address are entered in the first instance along with the time and date. A unique number is created which is often given to people so that, if they ring up, the call handler can quickly find the log.

As the incident progresses fresh entries are made at each stage - officer attending, people taken to hospital, descriptions of persons wanted etc. along with the time and date.

The log is usually closed when the police presence at the scene has ended and the matter has been concluded or carried forward as a crime/road accident report (or one or several other type of reports depending on the incident).

The police service does record all 999 calls. They are recorded so that they can be played back if clarification is needed and are sometimes used as evidence in court cases. No warning is given that the calls are recorded as this would obviously cause delay in an emergency situation.

Most forces do record the majority of calls that are received in call centres. A warning is sometimes given at the time and sometimes not as this again may delay the dispatch of officers and will vary depending on force policy. The warnings are sometimes placed on adverts in phone books.

There are certain types of events that require the organiser to notify the police in advance of the event. The requirements are that if a public procession is intended to:

• demonstrate support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person or body of persons;
• publicise a cause or campaign; or
• mark or commemorate an event,

then advance notice must be given unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so. The notice must specify:

• the date when it is intended to hold the procession;
• the time when it is intended to start it;
• its proposed route; and
• the name and address of the person (or one of the persons) proposing to organise it.

It must be delivered at least 6 days before the event.

If the event is not classed as a public procession it might be still worthwhile contacting Police Scotland by dialling 101 to inform them of the event in any case.

Please see the links in Related Information for further guidance. 

It is widely accepted that a police officer is always a police officer. An officer can exercise most of his or her powers all the time (those where an officer is required to be in uniform are restricted).

As soon as a police officer exercises any of his or her powers then they are classed as being on duty.

A police officer does not have to be in uniform to make an arrest. There are some powers that a police officer must be in uniform to exercise but that does not mean that the officer has to be wearing a hat, only that they can be clearly identified as a police officer from their clothing.

The Policing Pledge is not applicable in Scotland.

Policing pledges refer only to England and Wales. In Scotland, the police conduct public consultation in all policing areas which identifies the concerns of the public with regards to crimes and anti social behaviour. This then becomes policing priorities whereby the local community police officers can focus their policing activities. The local community policing teams compile local policing plans which are available for public view which inform the public of the priorities and what actions the police are taking with regards to them.

Police officers are being issued with handheld devices that allow them to access police systems when they are working away from police stations, allowing them to work more effectively.

These devices can be used to access, record and submit key information, directly at the scene, allowing officers to carry out a number of processes without having to return to the police station, for example, recording witness statements and completing missing person forms.

These devices enable officers to work more efficiently and spend more time in their local communities, therefore benefiting the police, victims and local communities.

Body worn cameras are visible cameras that officers wear attached to their chest to capture video and audio evidence when attending all types of incidents.

These cameras are used by police officers to support prosecutions and assist the police in protecting their local communities. They are intended to provide better standards of evidence and an accurate record of street encounters (for example, when using stop and search powers), as well as encouraging increased professionalism within the frontline .

They can be used at the scene of a crime to gather video evidence and obtain first accounts from people present, including victims, which can be useful later in collaborating statements. The footage obtained via these cameras can therefore assist in resolving cases more quickly.

Body-worn  cameras are also issued to National Highways traffic officers for similar purposes as those outlined above.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.