Reapplying to
Police Scotland
What Police Scotland says about applying again, the exact 200-word question every previous applicant answers with an example answer and a recovery plan for each stage you might have failed: the form, the PSET, fitness, the assessment day or the final checks.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
Yes. Police Scotland says you can reapply when you meet the criteria. Its form asks previous applicants, in up to 200 words, what they have done to prepare and how they used the feedback. It does not publish waiting periods or attempt limits for the PSET or fitness test, so ask the recruitment team. The Police Officer vacancy was open until 31 March 2027 when we checked.
Can you reapply? Yes
Failing a stage is not the end of your chances with Police Scotland. Its recruitment page says that if you fail pre-screening you can reapply when you meet the criteria. Its application form goes further: the eligibility assessment asks whether you have applied before. The main form has a question written only for previous applicants.
That question is the single most useful thing to prepare. It asks you to show, in up to 200 words, what you have done since and how you used the feedback. A strong answer turns a previous failure into evidence that you learn and improve, which is exactly what the competency framework rewards.
Our free recruitment timeline planner lets you plan preparation time for the stage you failed and track your stage dates against the fixed rules, such as the six-month fitness rule.
What Police Scotland publishes and what it does not
| Question | Published answer |
|---|---|
| Can I reapply after failing pre-screening? | Yes, when you meet the criteria. |
| Is there a question for previous applicants? | Yes, up to 200 words, on the main form. |
| Is a previous application asked about? | Yes, on the eligibility assessment. |
| How long must I wait to reapply? | Not published. |
| How many PSET attempts do I get? | Not published. |
| How soon can I resit the PSET? | Not published. |
| How many fitness test attempts do I get? | Not published. |
| Does an old fitness pass carry over? | Not published. A pass must be within 6 months of being given a start date. |
| Is there an appeal? | No general appeal route is published. For tattoos, no specific appeal: you can reapply. |
| What feedback do I get? | Not published. The form refers to "the feedback provided". |
Where an answer is not published, we have not filled the gap from other websites. Some quote resit rules and pass marks that belong to the old Standard Entrance Test, not the current PSET. Ask the recruitment team and get the answer in writing if it affects your timing.
The previous-applicant question, word for word
"As you have made a previous application to us, please explain what you have done to prepare for this new application. Please include details of how you have used the feedback provided." Maximum 200 words.
Read it as two questions in one:
- What have you done to prepare for this new application?
- How have you used the feedback provided?
Many answers cover the first and skip the second. The question says "please include details", so the feedback part is not optional. If you were not given feedback, say what you understood about why you were unsuccessful and what you did about it.
There is also a separate "any other information" box of up to 200 words. Use the previous-applicant box for your preparation and feedback. Use the other box only if there is something genuinely different to add.
An example 200-word answer
This is an original example about an invented candidate whose last application ended at the assessment day. It is 192 words. Do not copy it: the point of the question is your own preparation. Police Scotland also says applications that appear entirely AI-generated are likely to be identified.
My previous application ended at the assessment day, after I had passed the PSET and the fitness test. The feedback said my group task contribution focused on my own ideas and that in the situational judgement exercise I described actions without explaining my reasons.
I have acted on both points. At work I volunteered to chair our weekly team meeting for six months. I now plan each meeting around the agenda, invite quieter colleagues to speak first and summarise the decisions at the end. My manager has since asked me to help train a new supervisor.
For the situational judgement exercise, I practised answering scenarios out loud each week with a friend, using a simple pattern: what I notice, who is at risk, what I would do first and why. I recorded myself and listened back until I explained my reasoning every time.
I have also kept my fitness well above level 5.4 and reread the Police Scotland Competency and Values Framework, linking each competency to recent examples from my job and from volunteering with a local food bank.
I am a better prepared candidate than last time and I understand why.
Why it works
- It starts with the facts: where the application ended and what the feedback said, in one short paragraph.
- One action per feedback point: chairing meetings answers the group task point; practising out loud answers the SJE point.
- Evidence of change: the manager's request is an outcome someone else noticed.
- It covers the other stages briefly: fitness and the CVF, without padding.
- It ends confidently without overclaiming.
A second example: last attempt ended at the PSET
Another original example, this time for an invented candidate whose application ended at the entrance test. It is 176 words. Again, do not copy it: write about your own preparation in your own words.
My previous application ended at the Police Scotland Entrance Test. Practising afterwards showed me that numeracy was my weakest element, although I was comfortable with literacy and information handling.
I treated this as a skills gap rather than bad luck. I worked through percentages, rates, time and money problems for three evenings a week over ten weeks, always with a calculator, because one is provided on the day. I kept a log of every question I got wrong and why. It showed most errors came from misreading the question rather than the arithmetic.
To fix that, I now underline what each question asks before I calculate. I then moved on to full timed papers, handwritten in ink, so I could manage 49 questions in 60 minutes without rushing the final section. My numeracy practice results are now steady, although I know practice papers cannot predict the real test.
I have also kept my fitness well above level 5.4. I spoke with serving officers at a recruitment event, which confirmed that this is the career I want.
What this one does differently
- No feedback quoted. The candidate explains how they found their weak element themselves, which works if you were not given detailed feedback.
- It diagnoses the cause: misreading questions rather than arithmetic. It then says what changed in method.
- It mirrors the real test: a calculator, handwriting in ink and 49 questions in 60 minutes.
- It is honest about practice results: steady improvement, no claim that practice predicts a pass.
Writing your own answer: a four-part structure
| Part | What to put in it | Rough length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Where it ended | The stage you reached and, briefly, what the feedback said. | About 40 words |
| 2. What you did about each point | One concrete action for each feedback point, with how long and how often. | About 90 words |
| 3. Evidence it worked | Something that shows the change: a result, a role, a practice score, a comment from someone else. | About 40 words |
| 4. Wider preparation | Fitness, PSET practice, the CVF, what you learned about the job. | About 30 words |
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Blaming the process or the assessors. It reads as the opposite of taking ownership.
- Vague promises such as "I have worked hard on my weaknesses". Say what you did.
- Repeating the personal statement. This box is about what changed since last time.
- Going over 200 words. Draft offline, count, then paste in.
If your earlier attempt ended at the values question or personal statement stage, our values question guide and application form guide help you rebuild those answers.
The other 200-word box: any other information
The main form also has an "any other information" box, again up to 200 words. It is separate from the previous-applicant question. Use it sparingly on a second attempt:
| Put it in the previous-applicant box | Consider the other-information box | Leave out |
|---|---|---|
| What the feedback said and what you did about it | A change in circumstances since last time, such as a new role or completed training | A repeat of your personal statement |
| How you prepared for the stage you failed | Something relevant the form has no other place for | Complaints about the previous process |
| Evidence the preparation worked | Context for an answer elsewhere on the form, stated briefly | Anything you cannot back up if asked |
If you have nothing genuinely new to add, it is fine to keep the other-information box short. Filling it for the sake of it adds nothing.
A recovery plan for each stage
Police Scotland's stages run in this order: eligibility and the application form, the PSET, the fitness assessment, the assessment day (group task and SJE in the morning, the interview in the afternoon if you pass the morning), then the medical, substance misuse test, references and vetting.
| Stage you failed | What Police Scotland publishes | Recovery focus |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility pre-screening | You can reapply when you meet the criteria. | Find the rule that stopped you and the date it stops applying (age, residence, status, licence, points, finances). |
| Main application form | Answers are used to assess motivation, expectations, preparation, skills, experience and values, in your own words. | Rewrite the personal statement and values answer with specific real examples. |
| PSET | One paper, three elements, pass all three. Resit rules not published. | Identify the weak element and practise full timed papers. |
| Fitness assessment | Level 5.4 on a 15-metre test. Retake rules not published. | Train beyond 5.4, practise the turns, test yourself with the beeps. |
| Assessment day, morning | Group task and SJE assessed against the CVF. You must be successful in the morning to reach the interview. | Practise speaking your reasoning out loud and working in a group. |
| Assessment day, interview | Four questions in 20 minutes, each tied to a named CVF competency. | Build two strong examples per competency and practise to time. |
| Medical, substance test, references or vetting | Final-stage checks. Individual decisions; reasons depend on your case. | Fix what can be fixed (a debt rule, a missing reference). Ask what applies to you. |
Recovery plan by stage, with weeks of preparation
How long to spend fixing each stage before reapplying. The weeks are our suggestion for someone preparing alongside a full-time job, not a Police Scotland figure. They do not include any waiting period Police Scotland may set, which it does not publish.
| Stage you failed | Suggested preparation (our suggestion) | Main work | Sign you are ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility screening | Until the rule stops applying | Wait for the date; prepare the tested stages meanwhile | The rule no longer applies to you |
| Application form | 3 to 4 weeks | New examples; rewrite the statement and values answer offline | A reader who knows you says the examples are specific and real |
| PSET, one element | 6 to 8 weeks | Daily short practice on that element, then full timed papers | Comfortable on full papers in 60 minutes by hand |
| PSET, more than one element | 8 to 12 weeks | Method work on each weak element, then full timed papers | All three elements secure on full papers |
| Fitness, stopped before level 5 | 8 to 12 weeks | Aerobic base, intervals and turns on a 15-metre course | Level 6 or more with the beeps |
| Fitness, missed beeps at level 5 | 4 to 6 weeks | Turning practice and pacing with the beeps | Level 6 or more with clean turns |
| Assessment day morning | 6 to 8 weeks | Group discussion practice; spoken SJE answers out loud | You explain your reasoning every time without prompting |
| Interview | 4 to 6 weeks | Two examples per competency; timed practice | Complete answers in about five minutes each |
| Final checks | Depends on the issue | Fix what can be fixed; ask what applies to you | A written answer from the team, or the issue resolved |
If you failed the PSET
The PSET is one handwritten paper of 49 questions in 60 minutes, covering numeracy, literacy and information handling. You must pass all three elements, so a strong score in two cannot carry a weak third. Police Scotland does not publish the pass mark or how the 49 questions split across the elements.
For context, 1919 Magazine, the Scottish Police Federation's magazine, reported PSET pass rates from a freedom of information request of 78% in 2022/23, 87% in 2023/24 and 94% in 2024/25. Most candidates pass, which is a reason to expect you can too with the right practice, not a reason to skip it.
- Work out which element let you down. If you were not told, sit a full practice paper and mark each element separately.
- Fix the method, not just the speed. For literacy, learn the difference between false and not possible to say. For numeracy, practise percentages, rates and time with a calculator. For information handling, practise reading tables accurately.
- Practise the full paper to time. 60 minutes for 49 questions is about 73 seconds each.
- Practise by hand. The real paper is handwritten in ink.
Element guides: PSET literacy, PSET numeracy and PSET information handling. Check where you stand with the free PSET readiness quiz or the free PSET practice test.
If you failed the fitness test
Police Scotland's standard is level 5.4 on a 15-metre multi-stage test: running in time with the beeps for four lengths at level 5. Its transferee and rejoiner pages say more people fail the fitness test than any other stage in recruitment. Its freedom of information figures for police officer applicants:
| Year | Took part | Met the standard | Did not meet | Did not finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,717 | 2,232 | 204 | 281 |
| 2023 | 2,196 | 1,690 | 194 | 312 |
| 2024 | 2,532 | 2,359 | 173 | Not given separately |
| 2025 (to 10 November) | 2,144 | 1,993 | 151 | Not given separately |
In 2024, 173 of 2,532 applicants (6.8%) did not meet the standard; in 2025 to 10 November it was 151 of 2,144 (7.0%). Our percentages, worked from Police Scotland's counts.
- Note where you stopped. Short of level 5 usually means aerobic fitness. Reaching level 5 but missing beeps often means the turns.
- Train past the standard. Aim for level 6 or 7 so 5.4 feels comfortable.
- Practise on a measured 15-metre course with the beeps, turning on alternate feet.
- Keep it up. The pass must be within 6 months of being given a start date. Police Scotland can also retest you at any point.
Our Police Scotland fitness test guide has an eight-week outline. The 15m bleep test simulator plays the beeps.
If you failed the assessment day
Police Scotland says every assessment day exercise is assessed against its Competency and Values Framework and that all the competencies and values are assessed across the day. The morning has an unassessed ice breaker, the 50-minute group task and the 60-minute spoken situational judgement exercise. If you are successful in the morning you go on to the afternoon interview. Police Scotland does not publish how the exercises are scored.
Failed in the morning
- Group task: practise reading a 500 to 600 word scenario in 10 minutes and planning a briefing that answers the task items. Practise bringing others in as well as making your own points.
- Situational judgement exercise: it is spoken and reactive, with no reading time. Practise answering unfolding scenarios out loud, saying what you notice, who is at risk, what you would do first and why. No policing or legal knowledge is needed.
Failed at the interview
The interview is 20 minutes with four questions, each tied to a CVF competency that is named as the question is asked. That is about five minutes per answer. Build two real examples for each of the six competencies, then practise telling each one to time.
Guides: group task and SJE, interview questions and answers and values and Code of Ethics. Practice: SJE practice and interview practice.
Reading your feedback against the CVF
Police Scotland says the assessment day is assessed against its Competency and Values Framework (CVF). If your feedback uses everyday words, it helps to map it to the framework so you know what to practise. Our reading, not Police Scotland's marking guide:
| If the feedback said... | The CVF area it most likely relates to | What to practise |
|---|---|---|
| You did not involve others in the group | We are collaborative | Inviting views, building on others' points, summarising. |
| You missed how people were feeling | We are emotionally aware | Naming the effect on victims, witnesses and colleagues. |
| You did not follow things through | We take ownership | Saying what you would do next and who you would tell. |
| You did not explain your reasons | We analyse critically | Stating what you notice, the risks and why you chose an action. |
| Your ideas were narrow | We are innovative and open-minded | Offering more than one option and weighing them. |
| You did not set an example | We deliver, support and inspire | Examples where you supported or motivated others. |
| Your answer did not reflect the values | Integrity, fairness, respect and human rights | Showing how a value shaped what you did. |
Our values and Code of Ethics guide explains the values in more detail.
If you failed the final checks
The final stages are the medical with Optima Health, a hair-sample substance misuse test, employer references and full vetting. Outcomes here are individual, so the first step is to understand exactly what the issue was.
- Medical: Police Scotland says it can accept candidates with many common health conditions, assesses each person individually and may ask your GP or specialist for more information. If something has changed since (for example treatment, or 6 weeks passing after eye surgery), that may matter. See the medical guide.
- References: make sure your 5-year employment history is complete and the contacts are current. See the references guide.
- Vetting: vetting confirms what you declared. Some rules are time-based and stop applying (see below). Inaccurate declarations are a problem in themselves. See the vetting guide.
Police Scotland says its Force Vetting Unit may on occasion make an early assessment of vetting suitability, case by case. If you are unsure whether something in your history will be a problem, ask the recruitment team about it before you reapply.
If you were screened out at eligibility
This is the clearest case: Police Scotland says you can reapply when you meet the criteria. Several of its rules have a date when they stop applying:
| Rule | When it stops applying |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | On your 18th birthday. |
| Under three years living in the UK | Once you have lived in the UK for at least three years. |
| Time-limited visa | When you hold indefinite leave to remain or equivalent (if you are not a UK or EEA national). |
| No manual licence | When you pass a manual test. |
| More than 6 points | When the points on your licence total 6 or fewer. |
| In a trust deed | 12 months after discharge. |
| Sequestrated or bankrupt | Once 3 years have passed. Police Scotland's wording does not say whether the 3 years run from the award or from discharge, so ask. |
| Defaulted accounts of £1,000 or more | When your defaulted accounts total less than £1,000 (Police Scotland does not publish how settled defaults are treated). |
| Eye surgery (PRK, LASIK, LASEK and similar) | At least 6 weeks after surgery. |
Some rules have no end date on the published pages: drink or drug driving and the serious offences on the rejection list. Our eligibility checker and finance and debt rules guide help you work out your dates.
If your last application ended on a declaration
Some applications end not on a test but on something declared: a tattoo, a conviction, finances or points. Police Scotland handles these differently:
- Tattoos: there is no specific appeal, but you can reapply. You may have been asked to alter a tattoo before an offer.
- Convictions on the rejection list: the published list gives no end date for most of them, including drink or drug driving.
- Other convictions: considered on their own merits; the vetting unit checks them before appointment.
- Finances and points: the published rules have dates or totals you can work towards.
In each case, declare the same facts consistently on the new application. Our guides to tattoos, driving licence and points and finance and debt rules cover the detail.
Common mistakes when reapplying
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Reapplying straight away with the same preparation | The same gap is likely to show again. | Fix the stage you failed first, then reapply. |
| Only fixing the stage you failed | Every stage is tested again; a pass last time is not a pass this time. | Keep fitness and PSET practice going while you fix the weak stage. |
| Reusing last time's personal statement word for word | The form asks what has changed since. | Refresh examples and show new experience. |
| Skipping the feedback part of the 200-word question | The question asks for it by name. | Say what the feedback was and what you did about each point. |
| Letting fitness drop after a pass | A pass must be within 6 months of being given a start date and you can be retested at any point. | Train past 5.4 throughout. |
| Assuming waiting periods from other websites | Police Scotland does not publish resit rules for the PSET or fitness test. | Ask the recruitment team and keep the reply. |
| Leaving out something declared last time | Your previous application is on record and vetting confirms what you supply. | Keep your declarations consistent and complete. |
Prepare this now: your reapplication record
Keep one document that tracks your second attempt. It makes the 200-word answer easy to write and keeps your declarations consistent with last time.
| Section | What to record |
|---|---|
| Last application | Date submitted, stage reached, date of the outcome. |
| Feedback | What you were told, in the words used, with the date. |
| Rules with dates | Any rule that applied to you and the date it stops applying. |
| Actions | Each thing you did to prepare, with dates and how often. |
| Evidence | Practice results, bleep test levels, new roles or responsibilities. |
| Declarations | Everything you declared last time, so this application matches. |
| Questions asked | What you asked the recruitment team and their replies. |
| Drafts | Your 200-word answer, personal statement and values answer, with word counts. |
- This week: write the first two sections while the outcome is fresh.
- This month: ask the recruitment team about waiting periods and anything else that affects timing.
- Every week: log one line of actions and evidence.
- Before you submit: draft the 200-word answer from the record, then count it.
A 12-week reapplication plan
A suggested shape for the weeks between deciding to reapply and submitting the form. Adjust it to the stage you failed and to any waiting period the recruitment team gives you. It is our suggestion, not an official plan.
| Weeks | Focus | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Write down where you failed, what the feedback said and any rule with a date (points, finances, residence). | You have a one-page summary of what needs to change. |
| 1 to 2 | Ask the recruitment team anything that affects timing: waiting periods, whether a previous pass carries over. | You have written answers or know what is unknown. |
| 1 to 12 | Fitness training throughout, past level 5.4. | You can run level 6 or more on a 15-metre course with the beeps. |
| 2 to 8 | Targeted work on the failed stage (see the sections above). | Practice results or feedback show the gap has closed. |
| 4 to 10 | PSET practice in all three elements, then full timed papers by hand. | You finish full papers in 60 minutes with every element secure. |
| 6 to 10 | Rewrite the personal statement and values answer with fresh examples. | Drafts are within the word limits and in your own words. |
| 10 to 11 | Draft the 200-word previous-applicant answer. | Every feedback point has an action and some evidence. |
| 12 | Check the eligibility rules again, gather 5 years of employment history and submit. | Application submitted before the closing date. |
Questions to put to the recruitment team
- "How long must I wait before I can reapply after failing [stage]?"
- "Will I need to sit the PSET again, or does my previous pass count?"
- "Will I need to sit the fitness test again?"
- "Can I have feedback on my [stage] result, if I have not received it?"
- "Is anything in my history likely to be an issue at vetting, so I can deal with it first?"
Keep the answers with your application records. If the answer changes your timing, update your plan in the timeline planner.
Timing your reapplication
Police Scotland says its process is "different for each person" and that how quickly you complete each step is partly up to you. It does not publish how long the whole process takes. When you choose when to reapply, think about:
- Real readiness. Reapply when the weak stage is genuinely fixed: practice scores, a bleep test result, rewritten answers.
- The vacancy window. The Police Officer vacancy was open until 31 March 2027 when we checked.
- The fitness six-month rule. Stay fit throughout so a retest is never a risk.
- Waiting periods. Not published. Ask the recruitment team before you plan around a date.
Our timeline to 31 March 2027, how long recruitment takes and the timeline planner help you plan.
What we could not verify
- Any waiting period before you can reapply after failing a stage.
- How many PSET attempts you get and how soon you can resit.
- How many fitness test attempts you get and the gap between them.
- Whether a fitness or PSET pass from a previous application carries over.
- What feedback is given after each stage and how it is delivered.
- How the PSET, group task, SJE and interview are scored and their pass marks.
- Whether any general appeals route exists for recruitment decisions.
- How settled or satisfied defaulted accounts are treated under the £1,000 rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you reapply to Police Scotland if you fail?
Yes. Police Scotland says that if you fail pre-screening you can reapply when you meet the criteria. The application form also has a question just for previous applicants. Being turned down once does not stop you applying again.
How long do you have to wait to reapply to Police Scotland?
Police Scotland does not publish a waiting period on its recruitment pages, either for reapplying in general or for resitting the PSET or the fitness test. Ask the recruitment team what applies to your case.
How many times can you take the PSET?
Police Scotland does not publish an attempt limit. Claims of three attempts on other websites relate to the older Standard Entrance Test and are not confirmed for the PSET.
What is the previous applicant question on the Police Scotland form?
The form asks: "As you have made a previous application to us, please explain what you have done to prepare for this new application. Please include details of how you have used the feedback provided." The limit is 200 words.
What should I write in the previous applicant answer?
Say where your last application ended, what the feedback said, what you did about each point and what has changed as a result. Use specific actions and evidence rather than general promises. Our example answer on this page is 192 words.
Do you get feedback if you fail the Police Scotland assessment day?
The previous-applicant question asks how you used the feedback provided, which suggests feedback is given. Police Scotland does not publish what form it takes or when. Ask the recruitment team if you have not received it.
Can I retake the Police Scotland fitness test?
Police Scotland's published pages do not say how many attempts you get or the gap between them. Its freedom of information figures show that in 2024, 173 of 2,532 police officer applicants did not meet the standard.
Does a previous fitness pass carry over to a new application?
Police Scotland does not publish this. Its rule is that the fitness test must have been completed within 6 months of being given a start date, otherwise you sit another before any formal offer. Expect to be tested again and keep training.
Can I appeal a Police Scotland recruitment decision?
Police Scotland does not publish a general appeals route for recruitment. For tattoo decisions its freedom of information response says there is no specific appeal and that you can reapply.
Will failing before count against me?
Police Scotland asks about previous applications on the eligibility form and gives previous applicants a dedicated question. What matters is how you answer it: showing that you understood the feedback and acted on it is the point of the question.
I was rejected because of a trust deed. When can I reapply?
Police Scotland rejects applicants who are currently in a trust deed or less than 12 months past discharge. Once 12 months have passed since discharge, that rule no longer applies. Check the other finance rules too.
Should I apply before the current vacancy closes?
The Police Officer vacancy on Police Scotland's portal had a closing date of 31 March 2027 when we checked. Apply when you are ready, not just because a date is close, but note that date when planning.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 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 Scotland: Our recruitment process (police officer) : reapply when you meet the criteria after pre-screening; process different for each person; six-month fitness rule; accuracy confirmed at vetting (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer application example : previous applications on the eligibility form; the previous-applicant question and its 200-word limit; any other information, 200 words (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer selection process : PSET pass all three elements; morning gate on the assessment day; final checks (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland FOI 25-3458 (recruitment fitness tests, 27 November 2025) : recruitment fitness test results for police officer applicants, 2022 to 10 November 2025 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Transferees : "more people fail the fitness test compared with any other stage" (accessed 22 October 2026)
- 1919 Magazine (Scottish Police Federation), 7 October 2025: PSET pass rates (secondary source) : PSET pass rates of 78%, 87% and 94% (secondary source; percentages only) (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland FOI 24-2094 (tattoos, September 2024) : no specific appeal for tattoo decisions; you can reapply (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Offences that mean you'll be rejected : time-based rules: trust deed, sequestration, points, defaulted accounts (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: vacancies : Police Officer vacancy closing 31 March 2027 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: AI guidance for applicants : answers in your own words; AI-generated applications likely to be identified (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Competency and Values Framework (PDF) : the competencies and values the assessment day is marked against (accessed 22 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
More for applicants and Scottish officers
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the College of Policing. It does not recruit, test or assess applicants. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not official Police Scotland questions. Police Scotland sets and changes its own selection process, so check its recruitment pages and your candidate account before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.