Police Now Assessment
Centre: How To Prepare
Police Now's selection is not the College of Policing's online assessment centre. It runs its own half-day digital assessment centre, set in a fictional neighbourhood called Ashview, marked against its own competencies and values. Here is every exercise for Neighbourhood and Detective candidates, what Police Now says it looks for and original practice for each.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 19 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Learn Police Now's mission, ten competencies and four values and be able to explain your motivation in your own words. Then practise each exercise for your specialism: a timed written report, short role plays followed by honest reflection, a team meeting (Neighbourhood) and interview answers spoken out loud. Read the handbook Police Now sends you and set up a quiet room with tested tech. Police Now says it is not a test of policing knowledge.
The exercise descriptions on this page come from Police Now's own pages, read on 19 October 2026. The practice briefs, prompts, model structures, competency map, plan and tips are PolicePay's own, written for practice. They are not Police Now's exercises, scenarios or marking scheme and Police Now has not reviewed them. The handbook Police Now sends invited candidates is the authority.
What you are preparing for
Police Now's selection has three assessed steps after the online application form:
- Immersive assessment: online, untimed, about 45 minutes plus a 10-minute practice. See our immersive assessment guide.
- Digital assessment centre: an estimated half day of exercises, which differ by specialism. This page.
- Professionalism in Policing meeting: after a conditional offer, about 15 minutes in person, on three of the College of Policing's ethical policing principles: courage, respect and empathy and public service.
| Neighbourhood | Detective, Economic Crime, Counter Terrorism |
|---|---|
| 1. Interview (one to one) | 1. Crime case interactions (a suspect; a community member worried about a victim's welfare) |
| 2. Incident summary (written report) | 2. Investigative report (written) |
| 3. Community engagement interactions, each followed by reflection | 3. Interview (one to one) |
| 4. Team meeting (group exercise) | 4. Debrief |
| 5. Debrief |
Police Now's Detective assessment centre page lists the four exercises above, but further down the same page a second "what to expect" list repeats the Neighbourhood exercises (interview, incident summary, community engagement interactions, team meeting, debrief) and refers to the neighbourhood role. It looks like leftover template content. We use the Detective list and the handbook you are sent will confirm the format.
Applications for the March 2027 entry have closed and Police Now says applications for the March 2028 start open early next year, so there is time to prepare properly. For eligibility and the programme itself, see Police Now explained.
Ashview: how the day is framed
Police Now sets its assessment centre in Ashview, a fictional community it built to give candidates an immersive experience of the role. Neighbourhood candidates experience it as a neighbourhood police officer; Detective route candidates experience it as a trainee detective constable. Police Now describes the exercises as a series of scenarios that let you show your character, mindset and skills and says it wants you to see the impact you could have on vulnerable communities.
Three things follow from that framing:
- Stay in role. The exercises are linked by the same community, so treat them as a day in the job rather than five separate tests.
- Think about the community, not just the incident. Even the Detective investigative report is described as suggesting next steps and follow-up actions to improve the relationship with the local community.
- Use the day to learn. Police Now's tip is to embrace the experience as a chance to find out more about the role. If the day shows you it is not for you, that is useful too.
Police Now stresses that the centre is not a test of your current policing knowledge and that it is not looking for specific answers. It is looking for your potential.
What Police Now's assessors look for
Both assessment centre pages give the same list. In our words, Police Now looks at:
- how you think and respond in different scenarios;
- how well you reflect on and learn from your experiences;
- how you react to challenges and cope in a fast-moving, changing environment;
- how you work with others;
- how well you read emotions;
- how you learn and adapt during the day itself.
It also says you are assessed on how aligned you are with its mission, competencies and values and recommends getting to know them before the centre. Police Now's help hub adds that it assesses cultural awareness and resilience in its recruitment and that being collaborative, empathetic and passionate about public service helps.
| Competency | What it means, in our words |
|---|---|
| Take ownership | Make reasoned decisions, accept responsibility and learn from feedback and mistakes. |
| Collaborate | Build lasting partnerships towards shared goals, beyond your own organisation. |
| Support and inspire | Understand the vision and model the values for others. |
| Analyse critically | Weigh information and views to find the root causes of complex problems. |
| Innovative and open-minded | Stay curious, look for good practice and try creative methods. |
| Emotionally aware | Understand yourself and others and listen closely to people's needs. |
| Resilient | Stay calm under pressure and recover quickly from setbacks. |
| Culturally aware | Recognise that communities differ and adapt your approach. |
| Motivational alignment | Understand your role in Police Now's mission and show genuine commitment to it. |
| Written communication | Communicate clearly and concisely, with sound structure and grammar. |
Its four values are transparency, integrity, impartiality, public service. Our competencies and values guide takes each one in turn, with evidence ideas and example outlines.
Each exercise mapped to Police Now's competencies
Police Now does not publish which competencies each exercise scores. The table below is our reading of its exercise descriptions against its competency definitions, to help you decide what to practise. Treat it as a guide, not a marking scheme: in practice most exercises give you room to show several competencies.
| Exercise | What Police Now says it involves | Competencies most in play |
|---|---|---|
| Interview (both) | Motivation for joining, connection to the mission, how you would handle situations, past experience | Motivational alignment; take ownership; resilient; culturally aware |
| Incident summary (Neighbourhood) | Reviewing information, suggesting next steps and follow-up actions to improve community relations | Written communication; analyse critically; culturally aware; take ownership |
| Community engagement interactions (Neighbourhood) | Communication and problem solving with affected community members, then reflection after each one | Emotionally aware; culturally aware; resilient; take ownership (through the reflection) |
| Team meeting (Neighbourhood) | Assessing crimes together and finding ways to have a positive impact; communication and collaboration | Collaborate; analyse critically; support and inspire; innovative and open-minded |
| Crime case interactions (Detective routes) | A suspect and a community member worried about a victim: support, rapport, identifying risk, safeguarding | Emotionally aware; analyse critically; take ownership; resilient; impartiality (value) |
| Investigative report (Detective routes) | A written summary report on an incident with next steps and follow-up actions | Written communication; analyse critically; take ownership |
| Debrief (both) | Reflecting on what went well, what was hard and what you would do differently | Take ownership; innovative and open-minded; resilient; transparency (value) |
Two competencies run through the whole day: motivational alignment (Police Now asks about your motivation and connection to its mission in the interview and its tips ask you to think hard about your "why") and take ownership, which Police Now defines partly as seeking feedback and reflecting to improve. That is exactly what the reflections and the debrief ask of you.
Coaching and support before the day
What Police Now's current pages say about help before the assessment centre:
- The handbook. Invited candidates are sent an assessment centre handbook with guidance on what to expect and more detail on preparing. Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism candidates are told it has information on those specialisms.
- The recruitment team. Police Now's application page says it is there to help you prepare and that your recruitment officer is a message away. Its help hub lists a separate enquiry contact for assessments (the immersive assessment or the assessment centre).
- Live chat. Normally Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm, for technical queries and guidance on the assessment centre.
- Resources for neurodivergent candidates. Police Now's help hub says resources are provided before assessments so candidates feel prepared, alongside time adjustments.
Search-engine copies of older Police Now application pages, which now redirect to its home page, described a coaching session with a recruitment officer before the assessment centre, offered to everyone who reached that stage and bookable through the candidate portal once you had booked your assessment centre date. Police Now's current assessment centre, application and help hub pages, read on 19 October 2026, do not mention it. If you are invited, check your candidate portal and ask your recruitment officer whether a session is offered. If it is, take it: ask about the format, the technology and anything in the handbook you are unsure of.
Do not confuse this with the Performance and Development Coach. Police Now's coaches work with participants during the two-year programme and its help hub says extra coaching sessions are available then if needed. That support starts after you join, not during selection.
Neighbourhood: community engagement interactions
Police Now says you play out real-life scenarios as a neighbourhood police officer, engaging with affected community members, showing communication and problem-solving skills and then reflecting on your strengths and development areas after each interaction. Police Now does not publish how many interactions there are or how long each lasts.
What a strong interaction usually does (our guidance):
- Opens well. Introduce yourself and your role and check how the person would like to be addressed.
- Listens first. Let them tell their story. Use short prompts and summarise back what you heard.
- Reads the emotion. Name what they seem to feel ("it sounds like this has really worn you down") and respond to it.
- Gets the facts. Open questions to understand what, when, who and how often.
- Spots risk. Is anyone vulnerable or in danger? That comes before everything else.
- Agrees a way forward. Realistic, specific next steps and when you will update them. Promise only what you can deliver.
- Closes properly. Check they understand what happens next and have what they need.
Original PolicePay practice briefs. Ask a friend to play the other person for about five minutes, then reflect out loud for two:
Practice brief A: the frightened resident
You are the neighbourhood officer for a small estate. A resident in her seventies stops you outside the shop. Groups of teenagers have been gathering by the stairwell to her block, one of them kicked her door last week and she has stopped going out after dark. She says she did not report it because 'nothing ever happens'. She is upset and a little angry with you.
A strong response:
- Lets her finish before speaking and says back what she has told you so she knows you heard it.
- Acknowledges the impact on her (not going out after dark) as well as the incident itself.
- Asks open questions to get specifics: when, how often, can she describe anyone, has anything else happened.
- Is honest about what you can and cannot promise, rather than offering an arrest you cannot guarantee.
- Agrees a concrete next step and a time you will update her and checks whether she has support (family, neighbours, a housing officer).
Avoid: Defending the police, dismissing the young people as 'just kids', or jumping straight to enforcement without understanding the problem.
Practice brief B: the shop owner who wants to take matters into his own hands
A shop owner tells you he has been shoplifted from twelve times this month, reported none of it and next time he will 'deal with it himself'. He thinks the police only care about big crime.
A strong response:
- Stays calm and does not argue with his frustration, but is clear that using force on a suspect could get him into trouble.
- Asks what is being taken, when and whether he has CCTV, so you understand the pattern.
- Explains why reporting matters (it builds a picture and can direct patrols) in plain language.
- Offers practical, realistic steps: how to report, crime prevention advice, linking with other local shops.
- Leaves him with something agreed, not a lecture.
Avoid: Making promises about patrols you cannot keep, or telling him off before you have listened.
Practice brief C: the community leader who feels ignored
A volunteer who runs a youth project says the young people she works with are stopped and questioned far more than others and no longer trust the police. She agreed to meet you but expects to be fobbed off.
A strong response:
- Treats her as a partner with knowledge you do not have, not as a complaint to manage.
- Shows genuine curiosity about the young people's experience and does not get defensive.
- Recognises that different groups in one area can experience policing differently.
- Suggests a way to keep talking: a follow-up visit, an informal session at the project, a named contact.
- Is honest that you cannot change everything yourself but commits to what is in your control.
Avoid: Explaining away her concerns, or promising outcomes on behalf of the whole force.
Police Now builds reflection into each interaction and lists reflecting and learning among what assessors look for. Use questions like these (ours) to practise and answer them honestly rather than defensively:
- What did I want the person to leave with and did they?
- What did I notice about their emotions and how did I respond?
- Where did I talk when I should have listened?
- What risk or vulnerability did I spot and what did I do about it?
- One thing I would keep and one thing I would change.
A balanced reflection names a real strength, a real development point and what you would do differently. "It went perfectly" and "I was terrible" both show less self-awareness than a specific, calm review.
Neighbourhood: the incident summary
Police Now says you produce a written summary report on an incident, reviewing information and suggesting next steps and follow-up actions to improve the relationship with the local community. Written communication is one of its ten competencies: clear, concise language, a suitable structure and correct grammar.
Original practice prompt (allow 30 minutes)
You are a neighbourhood officer. Your sergeant asks for a summary of the following by the end of your shift:
- An email from a resident: teenagers have been gathering at the bus shelter on Mill Road most evenings; the bench has been damaged and there is litter.
- A call log: an 81-year-old woman reported feeling intimidated when a group shouted at her on her way home. No injuries.
- A note from the local youth club: its evening sessions were cut from four nights to one last month because of funding.
- A council officer's message: the bus shelter has no working light and a repair has been requested.
- A comment from a shopkeeper: "most of them are fine, it's two or three older lads who come over from the next estate."
Write a summary for your sergeant with your recommended next steps.
A model structure (our suggestion):
- Purpose (one line): what the report covers and who it is for.
- Summary of the issue: regular evening gatherings at the Mill Road bus shelter, with damage, litter and one report of intimidation.
- Who is affected: the older resident (vulnerable, now fearful), other residents, the shopkeeper and the young people themselves.
- What is known and what is not: the shopkeeper's view suggests a small number of older individuals, not the whole group; this is one person's opinion and needs checking.
- Likely causes: fewer youth club sessions and a dark shelter may both be contributing. Say these are possibilities, not facts.
- Recommendations, numbered, with a reason for each: visit the older resident to reassure her and check her welfare; speak to the young people at the shelter; chase the lighting repair with the council; talk to the youth club about the gap in provision; record and monitor further reports.
- Close: what you will do first and when you will update the sergeant.
What this structure shows: you separated fact from opinion (analyse critically), treated the young people as part of the community rather than only as a problem (culturally aware), put the vulnerable person first and committed to actions (take ownership). Leave five minutes to check spelling, grammar and that every recommendation has a reason.
For more timed practice, our police written exercise examples give four more tasks with planning outlines. They were written for the College of Policing's online assessment centre, but the skills of reading quickly, prioritising and writing clearly carry straight across.
Neighbourhood: the team meeting
Police Now says you work as a team to assess crimes and find ways to have a positive impact on the community, showing communication and collaboration by analysing information and solving problems together. It does not publish the group size, the timing or whether there is a set role for each candidate.
What a strong contribution usually looks like (our guidance):
- Speak early, with a short, useful point, so you are part of the discussion from the start.
- Refer to the information pack: name the evidence behind your view.
- Build on others by name: 'I agree with Sam on the school and I would add...'.
- Invite quieter members in and check you have understood them correctly.
- Disagree politely with reasons and be willing to change your view when the evidence supports it.
- Keep an eye on time and offer to summarise what the group has agreed before the end.
- Think about the community's view and partners (schools, councils, housing), not only enforcement.
Original PolicePay team prompts. Run one with two or three friends for 20 minutes, then ask them how you came across:
Team prompt 1: three problems, one week
Your team of four has a week of extra patrol time for a neighbourhood. The information pack shows three issues: repeat car break-ins in one car park, complaints about drug dealing near a primary school and a rise in reports of noisy gatherings in a park. Agree which to focus on first, what you need to find out and two actions for each issue.
Team prompt 2: rebuilding trust
A residents' survey shows confidence in local policing has dropped in one part of town, especially among younger residents and one minority community. Agree three practical ways to improve trust over the next three months, who you would work with and how you would know if it was working.
For prompt 1, a strong group usually weighs risk and harm (drug dealing near a school affects children), asks what the information does and does not show and thinks about partners such as the school and the council. For prompt 2, it asks why confidence has fallen before proposing fixes and suggests ways to measure change, such as a follow-up survey or attendance at meetings. Neither has a single right answer.
Police Now defines collaboration as building genuine, lasting partnerships around shared aims. In a group exercise that means helping the group reach a good decision. Dominating, staying silent and agreeing with everything all make it hard to show.
Detective routes: crime case interactions
Police Now says you play out real-life situations a trainee detective constable is likely to face: an interaction with a suspect of crime and one with a member of the community who is concerned for the welfare of a victim. It describes them as a chance to show you can provide support, build rapport, identify risk and safeguard. This applies to Detective, Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism candidates.
You do not need to know interview law or the PEACE model: Police Now says the centre is not a test of policing knowledge and investigative interviewing is taught at the academy. What you can practise is the human side: staying neutral, asking open questions, listening, noticing risk and keeping your composure.
Practice brief D: the suspect who will not engage
A man in his twenties is suspected of using a neighbour's bank card details to buy goods online. He agrees to talk to you voluntarily, is short with you, says he has 'no idea' what you mean and asks why he is being picked on.
A strong response:
- Explains who you are and why you want to speak to him, calmly and without accusing him.
- Stays neutral and respectful whatever his attitude: impartiality is one of Police Now's values.
- Uses open questions (tell me about, describe, explain) and listens for detail rather than arguing.
- Notices anything that could be a risk to him or others (for example, he mentions debts or pressure from someone).
- Does not jump to conclusions or treat suspicion as proof and summarises what he has said accurately.
Avoid: Leading questions, sarcasm, raising your voice to match his, or announcing that you know he did it.
Practice brief E: the suspect who wants to explain everything
A woman accused of taking money from the till at a charity shop where she volunteers is tearful, says she was going to pay it back and starts talking about problems at home.
A strong response:
- Stays professional while showing empathy: being kind does not mean agreeing with her.
- Lets her speak and notes what she says, without promising any outcome.
- Picks up the welfare cues (problems at home) and asks whether she or anyone else is at risk.
- Keeps the focus on understanding what happened rather than giving advice about the case.
Avoid: Telling her it 'will probably be fine', or becoming so sympathetic that you stop gathering facts.
Practice brief F: the worried neighbour
A neighbour calls because an elderly man next door has had several visits from people offering roof repairs, has withdrawn large sums of cash and now seems frightened to answer the door. She does not want to 'cause trouble' for him.
A strong response:
- Reassures her that raising a concern is the right thing to do.
- Gathers useful detail: dates, descriptions, vehicles, what she has seen and heard.
- Recognises the signs of vulnerability and possible financial abuse and treats his safety as the priority.
- Explains what will happen next in plain terms and how she can help without putting herself at risk.
- Thinks about who else should know, such as family or adult social care, without overpromising.
Avoid: Treating it as a civil dispute about building work, or making the neighbour feel she is overreacting.
| With a suspect | With a worried community member | |
|---|---|---|
| Your main aim | Understand their account fairly and accurately | Gather useful information and make sure the victim is safe |
| Tone | Calm, neutral, respectful, whatever their attitude | Warm, reassuring, taking the concern seriously |
| Questions | Open and non-leading; clarify, do not argue | Open, then specific: dates, descriptions, what they saw |
| Risk to look for | Risk to the suspect or others; signs they are being pressured | Vulnerability, ongoing harm, signs of abuse or exploitation |
| Value most tested | Impartiality | Public service |
| Common trap | Treating suspicion as proof | Treating a safeguarding concern as a civil or minor matter |
Detective routes: the investigative report
Police Now's Detective page says you produce a written summary report on an incident, reviewing information and suggesting next steps and follow-up actions to improve the relationship with the local community. That wording is the same as the Neighbourhood incident summary, so expect a mix of investigative thinking and community awareness. Written communication is the competency most directly in play.
Original practice prompt (allow 30 minutes)
You are a trainee detective constable. You have been given this information about an incident:
- A 74-year-old man reports that two men offered to fix his roof, took £2,000 in cash up front, did a few minutes' work and have not returned.
- His daughter says they have been back twice asking for more money and he now refuses to answer the door.
- A neighbour noted part of a van registration and says she has seen the same van on two other streets nearby.
- The local residents' group has posted online about "rogue traders" and some members are angry the police have not acted.
- A bank has contacted the man about an unusual cash withdrawal.
Write a short report for your supervisor: what is known, the lines of enquiry, risks and your recommended next steps.
A model structure (our suggestion):
- Purpose: a summary of a suspected doorstep fraud against an older victim, with recommended actions.
- Known facts: what each source says, kept separate from opinion or rumour (the online posts are not evidence).
- Risks: the victim is vulnerable and has been targeted repeatedly; other residents on nearby streets may be at risk.
- Lines of enquiry: the partial registration, the bank's information, the neighbour's account, whether similar reports exist elsewhere.
- Victim care: reassurance, keeping him updated, involving his daughter with his agreement and support services.
- Community actions: a calm, factual message to the residents' group, prevention advice and working with partners such as Trading Standards.
- Next steps: numbered, in priority order, with a reason for each and what you will do first.
What this shows: you prioritised a vulnerable victim (public service), weighed sources rather than accepting all information equally (analyse critically), thought beyond the single case to the community (culturally aware, collaborate) and committed to clear actions (take ownership). Do not pad with legal terms: plain, accurate English is what Police Now's written communication competency asks for.
The interview (both specialisms)
Police Now says the one-to-one interview covers your motivation for joining Police Now and your connection to its mission (the Detective page adds why you want to be part of the programme), how you would respond to situations in the role and your own past experiences. It is the place where motivational alignment is tested most directly.
- Motivation: be specific about why policing, why Police Now rather than a force's own route and why your specialism.
- Situational questions: say what you would do first, why, who you would involve and how you would follow up.
- Past experience: one real example per answer, structured with STAR, focusing on what you did.
Our full Police Now interview questions guide has more than 30 original practice questions grouped by theme, with answer plans and two worked examples. For structure, see STAR interview answers and why do you want to join the police.
Written exercise practice: police written exercise examples (written for the College of Policing assessment, but the incident summary skill is the same).
The debrief (both specialisms)
Both centres end with a debrief. Police Now says you reflect on what you have learned, talk openly about where you performed well and what you found challenging and think about what you would do differently next time. It is the clearest test of Police Now's take ownership competency, which includes seeking feedback, learning from mistakes and reflecting to improve.
Practise answering questions like these honestly (our own, not Police Now's):
- Which exercise went best and why?
- Which exercise was hardest and what made it hard?
- If you did one of the interactions again, what would you do differently?
- What did you notice about how you worked with others today?
- What feedback would you give yourself on your written report?
- What have you learned about the role from today?
A simple shape for each answer: what happened; what you did and why; what the effect was; what you would keep or change next time. Keep it specific, use examples from the day and do not argue with how an exercise went.
If the format allows notes, jot one line after each exercise: one thing that went well and one you would change. It makes the debrief far easier than trying to remember a half day of exercises at the end. Check the handbook for what note-taking is allowed.
Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism: what to research
Police Now's Detective assessment centre page tells Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism candidates to familiarise themselves with the work those specialisms involve and says the handbook has more information. The exercises are the same as the Detective route. Here is what Police Now's own specialism pages say, as a starting point.
Economic Crime
- The work: Police Now's page lists tax evasion, money laundering, online fraud (for example romance scams or fake sales), identity fraud and bribery and corruption.
- What it looks for: an understanding of economic crime and cyber threats and their impact on victims; an interest in data, finance and technology; the ability to manage large amounts of data; and spotting patterns and anomalies, working with partners including the National Crime Agency, financial institutions and Trading Standards.
- Context: the page notes that City of London Police is the national lead force for economic crime and fraud. Police Now's March 2027 Economic Crime role was with Dorset Police.
- How to use it: think about how fraud affects real victims, especially vulnerable ones and be ready to say why the data side of the work appeals to you. Do not try to learn fraud law.
Counter Terrorism
- The work: Police Now's page describes the Counter Terrorism Policing network, a collaboration of UK forces with eleven regional counter terrorism units and intelligence units, working on investigation, intelligence, community engagement and supporting de-radicalisation.
- What it looks for: an understanding of what counter terrorism is; a strong interest in global affairs and politics while keeping a neutral political view; high levels of discretion with sensitive information; and building trust and rapport quickly while keeping identities and information confidential.
- Structure: counter terrorism work starts in year two, after the detective foundation and the role needs vetting up to Developed Vetting.
- Official background: the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST (2023 version on GOV.UK), has four strands: Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare. Knowing what each means is reasonable background; you will not be tested on it.
- How to use it: be ready to explain why the work appeals to you in a way that shows discretion and neutrality. Avoid sharing strong political opinions in your answers.
The day itself
What Police Now publishes about the format:
| Point | What Police Now says |
|---|---|
| Where | Digital: the assessment centre pages call it a digital assessment centre; the application page calls it virtual |
| Length | Estimated completion time: half a day |
| Exercise timings | Not published |
| Setting | Ashview, a fictional neighbourhood |
| Software | Not named on the current pages |
| Help on the day | Recruitment team contact; live chat normally Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm |
| Outcome | Within ten working days, with personalised feedback |
Your set-up (our checklist):
- A laptop or desktop with a working camera and microphone, plugged in. A phone is a poor substitute for a half-day session.
- Test your connection in the room you will use, at the same time of day if you can. Close other programs and pause large downloads.
- A quiet, well-lit room. Tell others in the house you cannot be disturbed for the whole half day.
- Water, a pen and paper (if notes are allowed) and the handbook to hand.
- Log in early. Have the recruitment team's contact details ready in case something fails.
- Dress as you would for an in-person interview. It helps you feel the part.
- Plan short breaks between exercises if the schedule allows: stretch, drink water, reset.
Contact the recruitment team straight away using the details in your invitation. Police Now's pages do not set out a rescheduling policy, so we cannot say what happens next, but telling them promptly is always the right first step.
A two-week preparation plan
A PolicePay suggestion for the fortnight before your assessment centre. Spread it out if you have longer.
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | Read the job description and Police Now's mission, competencies and values. Write, in your own words, what each competency would look like in each exercise on this page. |
| Days 3 to 4 | Build your motivation: why policing, why Police Now, why this specialism and force. Say it out loud until it sounds natural, not scripted. |
| Days 5 to 6 | Collect six to eight real examples from your life that show the competencies, especially resilience, cultural awareness and taking ownership. |
| Days 7 to 8 | Written practice: the incident summary or investigative report prompt on this page, timed, then a second from our written exercise examples. Check structure and grammar. |
| Days 9 to 10 | Role-play practice with a friend: the briefs on this page for your specialism, each followed by a two-minute spoken reflection. |
| Day 11 | Neighbourhood: one of the team prompts with two or three friends. Detective routes: one more suspect and one more community member role play. |
| Day 12 | Interview practice out loud, including situational questions. Test your camera, microphone and connection in the room you will use. |
| Days 13 to 14 | Re-read the handbook Police Now sends you, rest and prepare your space. Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism: reread your research notes. Do not cram. |
Adjustments
- Before the centre: Police Now says you will be given the chance to share any adjustment you need ahead of the digital assessment centre, so support can be put in place.
- Common adjustments: extra time is one Police Now says it frequently makes. Its neurodiversity FAQ mentions more time for written exercises and reading materials.
- In confidence: you can contact the team to discuss adjustments privately.
- Resources: Police Now says resources are provided before assessments so candidates can feel prepared.
- Immersive assessment: designed to be neuroinclusive, with captions, pause and play and transcripts; it is untimed, with timed sections only where needed to move you on.
Ask early and be specific about what helps you: extra time on the written report, materials in a particular format, or breaks between exercises. See also mental health and neurodiversity in police recruitment.
Feedback, next steps and reapplying
Police Now says outcomes come within ten working days, with personalised feedback related to the competencies you were assessed against.
- If you pass: a dedicated recruitment officer contacts you, explains onboarding and guides you through the pre-employment checks (fitness test, medical, vetting, biometrics and substance misuse test). Offer holders are invited to an in-person induction event and there is a short in-person Professionalism in Policing meeting on courage, respect and empathy and public service.
- If you do not pass: read your feedback carefully and write down the two or three competencies it points to. Police Now's immersive assessment pages say feedback can help you if you apply to Police Now again in the future, so a later application is possible.
- Waiting periods: we found no published rule on how soon you can reapply or how many times. Windows are national and roughly annual, so in practice the next chance is the next window. Ask the recruitment team.
- Other routes: you can apply to forces directly at the same time as Police Now. See DHEP explained and Police Now vs DHEP vs PCDA.
For the Professionalism in Policing meeting, read our guides to courage, respect and empathy and public service and start fitness training early with how to pass the bleep test.
Mistakes to avoid
- Preparing for the College OAC instead. Police Now's centre has live role plays, a group exercise (Neighbourhood) and a debrief and its own framework.
- Revising law. Police Now says it is not a test of policing knowledge, even for detectives.
- A generic motivation answer. Motivational alignment is a competency in its own right; link your reasons to Police Now's mission and your specialism.
- Treating the suspect as guilty. Impartiality is one of Police Now's values; suspicion is not proof.
- Missing the vulnerable person. In both interactions and written tasks, check who is at risk first.
- Defensive reflection. Saying everything went well, or that everything went badly, misses the point of reflecting.
- Dominating or disappearing in the team meeting. Both make collaboration hard to see.
- Sloppy writing. Written communication is assessed. Leave time to check your report.
- Strong political opinions (Counter Terrorism). Police Now asks for an interest in global affairs while staying politically neutral.
- Using AI without checking the rules. Police Now's help hub says it has a policy on where generative AI can and cannot be used in its application process. Read it before you use any AI tool at any stage.
- Untested tech. A dropped connection in a virtual centre costs you composure, whatever happens next.
What we could not verify
- The handbook contents. It is sent to invited candidates; we have not seen the current one and it overrides this page.
- Whether the pre-assessment coaching session still runs. Only older, now-redirected Police Now pages described it.
- Timings and weighting for each exercise, the number of interactions and the size of the team meeting group. Not published.
- Which competencies each exercise scores. Our map is our reading, not Police Now's marking scheme.
- The exact Detective format, given the second Neighbourhood-style list on the Detective page.
- The software used and the rescheduling policy if your connection fails.
- Reapplication rules, such as a waiting period or a limit on attempts.
- Police Now's generative AI policy, which is published in a format we could not read.
Recruitment window alerts
Get told when Police Now opens the March 2028 window
The March 2027 entry has closed. Police Now says applications for the March 2028 start open early next year and has not given a date. Leave your email and we will tell you when the window opens, with the forces and the closing date we can find. You can add up to two forces too. Occasional emails, written by hand. Unsubscribe any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the Police Now assessment centre?
It is a digital assessment centre set in Ashview, a fictional neighbourhood Police Now built for the purpose and Police Now estimates it takes half a day. Neighbourhood candidates do a one-to-one interview, an incident summary written report, community engagement interactions with reflection, a team meeting and a debrief. Detective, Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism candidates do crime case interactions with a suspect and a community member, an investigative report, an interview and a debrief.
How do I prepare for the Police Now assessment centre?
Police Now's advice is to read the handbook it sends you, remember it is not a test of policing knowledge and there are no right or wrong answers, learn its mission, competencies and values, think hard about your motivation and treat the day as a chance to learn about the role. On top of that, practise a timed written report, short role plays followed by honest reflection, a team meeting (Neighbourhood) and interview answers spoken out loud.
Is the Police Now assessment centre online?
Yes. Police Now calls it a digital assessment centre and its application page describes it as virtual. Police Now's current pages do not name the software. Test your device, camera, microphone and connection beforehand and arrange a quiet room for the whole half day.
What is Ashview?
Ashview is the fictional community Police Now uses as the setting for its assessment centre. Police Now describes it as a virtual neighbourhood built to give you an immersive experience of the role you applied for, either neighbourhood officer or trainee detective constable.
What do Police Now assessors look for?
Police Now says it looks at how you think and respond in different scenarios, how you reflect and learn, how you react to challenges and respond in a fast-moving environment, how you work with others, how well you interpret emotions and how you learn and adapt through the day. You are assessed against its mission, ten competencies and four values.
Is there a presentation or group exercise at the Police Now assessment centre?
Police Now's current pages list no presentation. Neighbourhood candidates have a team meeting, which is a group exercise. The Detective page lists crime case interactions, an investigative report, an interview and a debrief, with no group exercise, although the same page also carries an older Neighbourhood-style list. The handbook you are sent settles it.
Does Police Now offer coaching before the assessment centre?
Older Police Now pages, which now redirect to its home page, described a coaching session with a recruitment officer that candidates could book in the candidate portal after booking an assessment centre date. Police Now's current pages do not mention it, so we could not confirm it runs for the next intake. Its application page says the team will help you prepare and live chat runs on weekdays from 11am to 3pm.
How long until I hear back from Police Now after the assessment centre?
Police Now says it will tell you the outcome within ten working days and give personalised feedback related to the competencies you were assessed against. If you pass, a dedicated recruitment officer contacts you about onboarding and the pre-employment checks.
Can I reapply to Police Now if I fail the assessment centre?
Police Now's immersive assessment pages say you can use your feedback if you apply to Police Now again in the future, so reapplying in a later window is possible. We found no published waiting period or limit on attempts. Ask the recruitment team before the next window opens.
Can I get adjustments for the Police Now assessment centre?
Yes. Police Now says you can share any adjustment you need before the digital assessment centre, that extra time is one it frequently makes and that you can discuss adjustments in confidence. Its neurodiversity FAQ mentions more time for written exercises and reading materials and resources provided before assessments.
Do I need to know the law for the Police Now detective assessment centre?
No. Police Now's Detective assessment centre page says it is not a test of your current policing knowledge and that it is looking for your potential to become a trainee detective constable. Law, investigation and evidence are taught at the 13-week academy.
What should Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism candidates research?
Police Now says to familiarise yourself with the work those specialisms involve and that the assessment centre handbook has more information. Its Economic Crime page lists fraud, money laundering, identity fraud, tax evasion, bribery and corruption and its Counter Terrorism page describes the Counter Terrorism Policing network and what it looks for, including discretion and an interest in global affairs while staying politically neutral.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 19 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Now: Neighbourhood assessment centre : Ashview; digital, estimated half day; five exercises; what assessors look for; not a test of policing knowledge; preparation tips; ten working days; feedback; adjustments; live chat hours (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Detective assessment centre : Ashview as a trainee detective constable; crime case interactions (support, rapport, risk, safeguarding), investigative report, interview, debrief; Economic Crime and Counter Terrorism research advice; second Neighbourhood-style list on the same page (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Neighbourhood immersive assessment : untimed, about 45 minutes plus a 10-minute practice; feedback report usable at the assessment centre or if you apply again (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Detective immersive assessment : neuroinclusive design; timed sections only where necessary; feedback usable if you apply to Police Now again in the future (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: What we look for : the ten competencies and four values; the mission; what each competency looks like in the role (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: How to apply : assessment centre described as virtual with group activities, interviews and role plays; team helps you prepare; recruitment officer support (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Help hub : neurodiversity support (time adjustments, resources before assessments); generative AI policy exists; recruitment assesses cultural awareness and resilience; Professionalism in Policing meeting; assessment enquiry contact (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now FAQ: What is the Professionalism in Policing meeting? : in person, about 15 minutes, three of the College of Policing's ethical policing principles (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Economic Crime : types of crime the role tackles; what Police Now looks for; partner agencies; City of London Police as national lead force for economic crime (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism : Counter Terrorism Policing network of eleven regional units; what Police Now looks for; vetting; counter terrorism work from year two (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: National Graduate Programme : application window status: March 2027 closed, March 2028 opening early next year (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: ISE award entry on its assessment and selection process : the immersive assessment was built with Talogy and uses scenario-based questions (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: CONTEST, the UK's counter-terrorism strategy (2023) : the four strands: Prevent, Pursue, Protect, Prepare (accessed 19 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Ethical policing principles (Code of Ethics) : courage, respect and empathy, public service (accessed 19 October 2026)
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Now, the College of Policing or any police force. It does not recruit or assess applicants. Police Now sets its own eligibility, selection and programme content and changes them between cohorts: check Police Now's own pages and your invitation before relying on anything here. Practice material on this page is original PolicePay material, not Police Now's. Details are as checked on 19 October 2026.