Special Constables

Complete the application form on our recruitment site. You'll find the link on the Apply now page.

Please note, you will require the following detail to complete the application form; NI Number, ID detail, address information, referee information, full employment history including dates and any qualifications you may have attained.  You may also be requested to provide photos of any visible tattoos you have. The application system only remains active on a single page for a period of 60 minutes. Therefore, please ensure you allow time to complete this fully as part complete pages will not be saved.  

You’ve completed your application form to join our force and made it through the initial sift - well done. So, what happens next? You'll get an email inviting you to undertake the online assessment process. The online assessment process involves a series of exercises that test you on the key values and competencies that are important for police officers and special constables. Here is a breakdown of the online assessment process:

Exercise 1: The Situational Judgement Test

Exercise 2: The Competency-Based Video Interview

Exercise 3: The Written Exercise

Exercise 4: The Briefing Exercise

Let's take a closer look at each stage.

Exercise 1: The Situational Judgement Test or SJT. The SJT measures your ability to choose the appropriate actions in situations you’re likely to face as a Special Constable. Your choices will be judged against the Competency and Values Framework or CVF. Here’s what to expect. You’ll be given 12 questions to answer, each with four options. You choose the response you think is best for the situation. It should take around 30 minutes to complete but you’ll have two hours.

Exercise 2: The Competency-Based Interview. You’ll be assessed on the following competencies and values from the CVF: integrity, public service, transparency, we take ownership, we are innovative and open-minded. Here's what to expect. You’ll be asked five questions on how you’ve dealt with specific situations in the past. You’ll give examples from your work or personal life that show you have the values and competencies we’re looking for. You’ll have one minute to consider the question and prepare your answer, five minutes to record your answer to each question and 40 minutes to complete the interview.

Exercise 3: The Written Exercise. You’ll be assessed on the following competencies and values from the CVF: impartiality, we analyse critically, we deliver, support and inspire, we are collaborative. Here’s what to expect. You’ll assume the role of a police officer and must complete an urgent written task for your line manager. You’ll be given four items of information to help you with this task. It should take 40 minutes to complete but you’ll have up to two hours. 

Exercise 4: The Briefing Exercise. You’ll be assessed on the following competencies and values from the CVF: public service, we are emotionally aware, we take ownership, we are innovative and open-minded. Here’s what to expect. You’ll assume the role of a Special Constable and you will have responsibility for dealing with some issues presented to you. You’ll be tasked with giving a verbal response to several questions related to the issue. You’ll be given some materials to help you consider and prepare your answer. It should take approximately 60 minutes to complete.

Preparation is key. To make sure you perform at your very best, read the candidate guidance documents carefully, read and understand the Competency and Values Framework. This is what you’re being marked against. Start thinking now about examples from your personal or work life that show you share the values and competencies needed to be an outstanding police officer. Want to start preparing now? Search online assessment process on www.college.police.uk.

Once you have passed the online test stage, you will be invited to a web interview. This will be based upon the Competency and Values Framework (CVF). The questions will give you the opportunity to use examples from your work, social or domestic life that evidences specific behaviours within the CVF that are essential to policing.

There are three components to the weekend assessment centre. The fitness test, the team group planning exercise, and biometrics and fingerprints.

Fitness test

The fitness test involves a multi-stage run known as the bleep test. It takes 3 minutes and 35 seconds and is made up of 35 15-metre shuttle runs between two points. You’ll hear a bleep at set intervals. You need to reach the other side before the next bleep. The bleeps speed up during the test. Your running speed will start at 7.9 kilometres per hour and will increase to 9.9 kilometres per hour, which means you’ll end up running the 15-metre stretch in five to six seconds by the end of the test.

Think you’re not fit enough? Don’t worry, it’s not super hard. As long as you’re reasonably fit and do some training in advance, you should be absolutely fine.

Find out more about the fitness test.

Team Group Planning Exercise

As a Special Constable you will need to work as a team with fellow specials and regular officers, coming up with solutions to various different problems and situations.

In the Group Planning Exercise you and your fellow candidates will be presented with a scenario and arrive at joint solution within a specified time frame.

There will be more than one possible solution to the scenario and you will be assessed on how you contribute as well as how you interact with others in your group.

The scenario will not be policing based or need specialised policing knowledge but you should familiarise yourself with the Competency Values Framework, the Ethical policing principles and National Decision Making Model.

Biometrics & Fingerprints

Fingerprints and DNA samples will need to be taken to carry out some final vetting checks against the national police database.

Upon successfully completing all of the above stages, we will perform the below checks before your appointment. 

Medical

All officers, whether a Special Constable or regular officer, need to be fit and healthy so they can meet the demands of a rewarding but challenging job. During your medical assessment, you will complete a confidential health declaration form. We also need to check your hearing, eyesight, height, weight, and Body Mass Index, blood pressure, lung capacity, and urine. Find out more about the medical assessment.

Background vetting

The vetting stage is a very thorough process involving detailed background checks, plus fingerprinting and DNA checks with your consent. Find out more about the vetting process.

Drug testing

If you are currently using any illegal drugs, this will rule you out of the recruitment process automatically. Police Regulations state that you must be tested for substance misuse. Failure to provide a sample will result in your application being terminated.

You will also have a uniform fitting at this stage.