Which Police Forces Have
a Final Interview?
After the national sift and the online assessment centre, does your force interview you again, and how? We read the recruitment pages of all 43 territorial forces in England and Wales on 1 October 2026 and recorded what each one says, with a link to its own page.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 1 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
For police constable applicants, every force must. Since 17 March 2026 the Police Regulations 2003 require candidates in England and Wales, except transferees, to pass an in-person interview with the force after the sift and online assessment. On 1 October 2026, 40 of 43 forces' own pages described this stage; for 3 we could not find it described. Formats vary, so check your force's page.
Every row below comes from the force's own recruitment page or document, read by PolicePay on 1 October 2026. We did not use coaching sites, forums or other third-party sources for any force. Recruitment processes change, sometimes between intakes, so always check the force's page (linked in each row) and your own invitation before you rely on anything here. This page is information, not advice, and it is not endorsed by the College of Policing or any force.
Is a final interview compulsory? What the law says
Yes, for police constable candidates in England and Wales. The Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/154) added regulation 10(1)(eb) to the Police Regulations 2003 from 17 March 2026. It says a candidate for appointment as a constable must, within the timescales and to the standard the College of Policing sets:
- complete and submit the national application form to a force;
- pass the national sift test;
- pass the online assessment process; and
- pass an in-person interview with the force they are applying to that meets the national standard.
The "national standard" is defined in regulation 10(3) as the minimum standard of competencies and values set by the College that candidates must show to be suitable for appointment as a constable. The requirement does not apply to a candidate applying to transfer from another police force, and the 2026 regulations extend to England and Wales only.
The College's own announcement on 17 March 2026 described the same four stages, ending with a face-to-face interview with the force you are applying to join, and said almost all forces were already using the process before it became a legal requirement. So the honest answer to "which forces have a final interview?" is: for constable recruitment, the law now expects all of them to. What differs between forces is what they call it, how long it is, who sits on the panel and what else happens on the day.
Older guides, written before March 2026, describe the force interview as something only some forces added. That was never a safe assumption for a particular force, and it is out of date now. If a guide, forum post or coaching site tells you your force does not interview, check the force's own page and the regulation before you believe it.
Try one out loud. Answer a practice question free and get a scored result in about a minute. No account. Answer a question free
The 43 forces in numbers
We recorded one row per force: whether its own page describes a force interview (or a face-to-face force assessment) after the online assessment, and anything the page says about the setting, length and panel. "Not found" means only that we could not find it on the pages we could read; it does not mean the force skips the stage.
| Measure | Forces | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forces checked | 43 | Every territorial force in England and Wales, one row each. |
| Page describes a force interview or face-to-face assessment after the OAC | 40 | Named as a stage on the force's own recruitment page or document. |
| Page says there is no such stage | 0 | No page we read said this. |
| Stage not found on the pages we could read | 3 | City of London Police, Greater Manchester Police and Hampshire Constabulary |
| Page says the stage is attended in person | 21 | At a named site, or described as face to face or in person. |
| Page says the stage is online | 1 | Wiltshire Police |
| Stage described but in person or online not stated | 18 | Check your invitation. |
| Page gives a length | 10 | See the comparison table for each force's figure. |
| Page describes who sits on the panel | 14 | Serving officers and police staff, where stated. |
| Page puts other activity in the same stage | 6 | For example a fitness test, biometrics or extra exercises. |
The 3 forces where we could not find the stage described were City of London Police, Greater Manchester Police and Hampshire Constabulary. In each case the pages we could read did not describe the recruitment stages for new constables. Greater Manchester's application portal asked for a robot check, which we do not complete. Their rows say exactly what we found.
Force-by-force table: what each force's page says
Sorted alphabetically. "Not stated" means the force's page did not say; it is not a guess that the answer is no. Lengths are as the force wrote them. The final column links to the exact page we read.
| Force | Stage on force page | What the page calls it | In person or online | Length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avon and Somerset Police | Described | Pre-selection health medical and in-person force interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Bedfordshire Police | Described | Interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Cambridgeshire Constabulary | Described | In-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Cheshire Constabulary | Described | In-person assessment and interview | In person | 30 to 45 minutes (interview) | Force page |
| City of London Police | Not found on the pages we could read | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Cleveland Police | Described | In-force final interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Cumbria Constabulary | Described | Interview (final interview) | In person | About 30 minutes | Force page |
| Derbyshire Constabulary | Described | National force interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Devon and Cornwall Police | Described | Selection day: force interview | In person | About 40 minutes | Force page |
| Dorset Police | Described | Force interview | Not stated | Up to 40 minutes | Force page |
| Durham Constabulary | Described | Final interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Dyfed-Powys Police | Described | Force interview and role-based evaluation | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Essex Police | Described | Senior interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Gloucestershire Constabulary | Described | Interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Greater Manchester Police | Not found on the pages we could read | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Gwent Police | Described | Force interview | Not stated | About 30 minutes | Force page |
| Hampshire Constabulary | Not found on the pages we could read | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Hertfordshire Constabulary | Described | In-force interview | In person | About 30 minutes | Force page |
| Humberside Police | Described | In-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Kent Police | Described | Senior interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Lancashire Constabulary | Described | Interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Leicestershire Police | Described | National force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Lincolnshire Police | Described | Interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Merseyside Police | Described | Invitation to interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Metropolitan Police | Described | Your Met assessment | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Norfolk Constabulary | Described | In-force final board interview | In person | 60 minutes | Force page |
| North Wales Police | Described | Interview | Not stated | About 45 minutes | Force page |
| North Yorkshire Police | Described | In-force competency-based assessment | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Northamptonshire Police | Described | In-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Northumbria Police | Described | Interview | In person | Up to 1.5 hours | Force page |
| Nottinghamshire Police | Described | Interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| South Wales Police | Described | In-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| South Yorkshire Police | Described | In-force assessment (competency-based interview) | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Staffordshire Police | Described | In-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Suffolk Constabulary | Described | In-force final board interview | In person | 60 minutes | Force page |
| Surrey Police | Described | Face-to-face interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Sussex Police | Described | Face-to-face interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| Thames Valley Police | Described | Interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Warwickshire Police | Described | In-person interview | In person | Not stated | Force page |
| West Mercia Police | Described | National in-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| West Midlands Police | Described | In-force assessment (strengths-based interview) | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| West Yorkshire Police | Described | In-force interview | Not stated | Not stated | Force page |
| Wiltshire Police | Described | Interview (final interview) | Online | Not stated | Force page |
Not sure which force to apply to? The free police force finder compares forces on pay, allowances and region, and our police jobs by force pages link to each force's own recruitment site. Neither tells you whether you will pass; they help you choose where to apply.
How each force describes its interview
A short PolicePay summary of what each force's page says, in our words. Where a page gave no detail beyond naming the stage, the summary says so. Follow the link to read the force's own wording.
Avon and Somerset Police
Described · Pre-selection health medical and in-person force interview
After the online assessment, candidates are invited to an in-person interview to talk about their motivation, skills and suitability, alongside a pre-selection health medical, fitness test and biometrics. The page says fitness testing and biometrics may happen before the assessment centre is finished.
Force page · PolicePay Avon and Somerset Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Bedfordshire Police
Described · Interview
Listed after the assessment centre: an interview with the recruitment team to show your motivation and suitability, followed by a medical (including a drugs test) and the fitness test.
Force page · PolicePay Bedfordshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Described · In-force interview
Candidates who pass the assessment centre attend an in-force interview with a panel. Questions are based on the CVF and followed by probing questions; the page lists past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based question types.
Panel, as the page describes it: A panel
Force page · PolicePay Cambridgeshire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Cheshire Constabulary
Described · In-person assessment and interview
An in-person assessment comes first: the bleep test, a communications exercise, an immersive virtual reality exercise and a scenario question that needs no knowledge of police procedure. Those who pass go on to an in-force interview exploring their understanding of the CVF. The force's FAQ page says it does not give feedback on the application form or interview.
Panel, as the page describes it: Trained operational officers and police staff representatives
Force page · PolicePay Cheshire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
City of London Police
Not found on the pages we could read
The force's careers site lists medical, eyesight, substance misuse, vetting and DNA checks but did not describe the recruitment stages for new constables on the pages we could read, and no new-recruit constable vacancy was listed on 1 October 2026.
Force page · PolicePay City of London Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Cleveland Police
Described · In-force final interview
Step 5, after the online assessment centre: a final in-force interview based on the force's values and the Code of Ethics, with more information given nearer the time. Parts of the same page look out of date (it mentions Adobe Flash for the online assessment), so check with the force.
Force page · PolicePay Cleveland Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Cumbria Constabulary
Described · Interview (final interview)
Stage 4 is a final interview to show further that you are suitable. The force's interview guidance says the panel will prompt you to clarify points and suggests preparing with the level 1 CVF and the force's priorities and Police and Crime Plan. Its route pages describe the interview as face to face or in person.
Panel, as the page describes it: Two people, usually a sergeant and a constable
Force page · PolicePay Cumbria Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Derbyshire Constabulary
Described · National force interview
Candidates who pass the online assessment centre are invited to an interview at force headquarters in Ripley, with details sent nearer the time; bring proof of your qualification. The page also says the evidence you give in your application or at interview must be your own, and that an application will be rejected if AI use is identified.
Force page · PolicePay Derbyshire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Devon and Cornwall Police
Described · Selection day: force interview
Candidates who pass the online assessment centre attend an in-person selection day at headquarters (Middlemoor, Exeter), with a structured interview on values and motivation for joining the force, set against the constable role profile based on the CVF, plus the fitness test.
Panel, as the page describes it: Police officers and staff
Force page · PolicePay Devon and Cornwall Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Dorset Police
Described · Force interview
Step 6, after the assessment centre: a structured local interview exploring your values and motivation to join Dorset as a constable, set against the constable role profile based on the CVF. Biometric vetting samples are taken and a fitness test may be done on the same day.
Panel, as the page describes it: Police officers and staff
Force page · PolicePay Dorset Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Durham Constabulary
Described · Final interview
Stage four: a final interview at force headquarters, your chance to show further that you are suitable to join as a constable or, on the detective route, as a detective constable.
Force page · PolicePay Durham Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Dyfed-Powys Police
Described · Force interview and role-based evaluation
After passing the online assessment, candidates attend force headquarters for an interview and a role-based evaluation (a team-building exercise and a scenario-based assessment of communication skills). The interview looks at how your values match the force's and your suitability against the CVF, your understanding of the force, your experience and your motivation. The page said applications were closed on 1 October 2026.
Force page · PolicePay Dyfed-Powys Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Essex Police
Described · Senior interview
Stage 3, after the online assessment: a face-to-face interview assessed against the CVF, with guidance on the format sent beforehand, alongside the fitness test. The force also runs online workshops for candidates waiting for their interview.
Panel, as the page describes it: Serving officers and staff
Force page · PolicePay Essex Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Described · Interview
Candidates who pass the assessment centre are invited to interview at police headquarters in Quedgeley, to get to know them and their suitability. The interview is based on the CVF at level 1. The page's timetable shows interviews in winter 2026/27 for a June 2027 intake.
Force page · PolicePay Gloucestershire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Greater Manchester Police
Not found on the pages we could read
The force's careers site PCEP page does not describe the recruitment stages, the old careers pages on gmp.police.uk now point to that site, and the application portal asked for a robot check, which we did not complete.
Force page · PolicePay Greater Manchester Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Gwent Police
Described · Force interview
After the online assessment: an interview of four questions, with further probing, to check your suitability against the CVF and how your values match the force's, your understanding of the force, your experience and skills, and your motivation. It may include forward-looking questions on how you would handle situations, and you can ask questions at the end.
Force page · PolicePay Gwent Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Hampshire Constabulary
Not found on the pages we could read
The force's careers pages now redirect to its recruitment site, whose officer recruitment page covers eligibility, pay and routes but did not describe the recruitment stages. Its apply links go to an application portal, which we did not use.
Force page · PolicePay Hampshire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Hertfordshire Constabulary
Described · In-force interview
After the online assessment: a competency-based interview that also tests your knowledge of the Policing Principles, with a chance to ask your own questions. Invitations usually come by email at least seven days ahead, and you must bring valid ID. The force's FAQ says it sends candidates a guide to the STAR approach, the CVF and the Policing Principles to help them prepare.
Force page · PolicePay Hertfordshire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Humberside Police
Described · In-force interview
The force's recruitment timeline shows an in-force interview after the online assessment centre, followed by vetting, occupational health, fitness, biometrics, substance misuse and reference checks. Its entry routes page said it was not recruiting on 1 October 2026.
Force page · PolicePay Humberside Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Kent Police
Described · Senior interview
After the online assessment: a face-to-face interview at the Kent Police College in Maidstone, with six competency-based questions assessed against the CVF at level 1. Details and guidance are sent by email.
Panel, as the page describes it: Serving police officers or staff
Force page · PolicePay Kent Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Lancashire Constabulary
Described · Interview
Stage 4: a face-to-face interview at police headquarters, with questions based on the criteria in the candidate specification to find out how you would perform in the job. The force suggests reading about its values and priorities. A conditional offer follows a successful interview.
Force page · PolicePay Lancashire Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Leicestershire Police
Described · National force interview
Step 4: guidance arrives by email and on the recruitment portal, where you book a slot and see the location and panel details. The force may ask some candidates to give a presentation and will send the brief if so. Results, with panel feedback, are given within five working days.
Force page · PolicePay Leicestershire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Lincolnshire Police
Described · Interview
Stage 4, after the assessment centre: an interview based on the CVF. The force asks candidates to research Lincolnshire Police and policing issues in the county and to show why they want to be a constable with this force.
Force page · PolicePay Lincolnshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Merseyside Police
Described · Invitation to interview
The PCEP page lists an invitation to interview after the online assessment and before the fitness, medical, vetting, biometric and reference checks. It does not describe the format.
Force page · PolicePay Merseyside Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Metropolitan Police
Described · Your Met assessment
After the online assessment, candidates go to the Met's recruitment centre in south London for an interview focused on the Met's values. Those who pass then do the medical and the job-related fitness test, and biometrics are taken.
Force page · PolicePay Metropolitan Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Norfolk Constabulary
Described · In-force final board interview
After the assessments: a competency-based interview on the Policing Principles and the CVF (2024), with interview guidance and a webinar beforehand. Details are emailed at least seven days ahead and you bring valid ID. A conditional offer follows a pass.
Force page · PolicePay Norfolk Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
North Wales Police
Described · Interview
After the online assessment: an interview to understand you, your ethics and your values, based on your research into the force, the Police and Crime Commissioner's office and the role, the Code of Ethics and the CVF. You can choose to be interviewed in English, Welsh or both.
Force page · PolicePay North Wales Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
North Yorkshire Police
Described · In-force competency-based assessment
Candidates who pass the national assessment are invited to a face-to-face in-force competency-based assessment. The page calls this an assessment rather than an interview and does not describe its format.
Force page · PolicePay North Yorkshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Northamptonshire Police
Described · In-force interview
After the online assessment: a panel interview with CVF-based questions and probing follow-ups, covering past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based questions. The page says a previous online assessment pass with any force can be used for 24 months to be invited to interview.
Panel, as the page describes it: A panel
Force page · PolicePay Northamptonshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Northumbria Police
Described · Interview
Step 5: a face-to-face interview in Newcastle on current issues that matter to the force and its communities and on you in more detail, with past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based questions. A conditional offer follows.
Force page · PolicePay Northumbria Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Nottinghamshire Police
Described · Interview
Step 5, after the online assessment centre: an interview at force headquarters, followed by a conditional offer and checks including fitness, medical, references, vetting, biometrics and drugs testing.
Panel, as the page describes it: An officer and a member of police staff
Force page · PolicePay Nottinghamshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
South Wales Police
Described · In-force interview
A panel asks CVF-based questions; use examples from work, social, home or education. A medical follows a successful interview. You must tell the force if you apply to another force while your application is being processed.
Panel, as the page describes it: Police staff, usually two people
Force page · PolicePay South Wales Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
South Yorkshire Police
Described · In-force assessment (competency-based interview)
After the national sift and online assessment centre: an in-force competency-based interview with questions based on the CVF. Pre-employment checks follow a successful interview.
Force page · PolicePay South Yorkshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Staffordshire Police
Described · In-force interview
After the online assessment: a panel interview with CVF-based questions and probing follow-ups, covering past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based questions.
Panel, as the page describes it: A panel
Force page · PolicePay Staffordshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Suffolk Constabulary
Described · In-force final board interview
The page uses the same wording as Norfolk's (the two forces describe a shared process): a 60-minute in-person competency-based interview on the Policing Principles and the CVF (2024), with guidance and a webinar beforehand.
Force page · PolicePay Suffolk Constabulary jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Surrey Police
Described · Face-to-face interview
Stage four, after the online assessment centre: an interview at force headquarters in Guildford with CVF-based questions, followed by pre-employment checks.
Panel, as the page describes it: Two Surrey Police employees
Force page · PolicePay Surrey Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Sussex Police
Described · Face-to-face interview
Stage four, after the online assessment centre: a face-to-face interview based on the CVF. The page's FAQ says a recent online assessment pass (within 12 months, at the required mark) can take you straight to the force interview, and that application to appointment averages 12 to 18 months.
Force page · PolicePay Sussex Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Thames Valley Police
Described · Interview
Step 5. Unusually, the page lists a provisional offer (step 4) after the online assessment centre and before the interview, followed by pre-employment checks. It gives no format details.
Force page · PolicePay Thames Valley Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Warwickshire Police
Described · In-person interview
Stage 4: a meeting with force representatives where the interview questions are based on the competencies and, the page says, provided by the College of Policing. Pre-employment checks, taking around twelve weeks, follow a pass.
Force page · PolicePay Warwickshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
West Mercia Police
Described · National in-force interview
Described as the last part of the formal assessment: CVF-based questions, possibly followed by more questions to explore your answer, looking at your motivation, skills and qualities. The force suggests the STAR method.
Panel, as the page describes it: Usually two or three people who work for the force
Force page · PolicePay West Mercia Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
West Midlands Police
Described · In-force assessment (strengths-based interview)
After the national sift and online assessment centre comes a final in-force assessment, which the page calls a strengths-based interview. It gives no further format details.
Force page · PolicePay West Midlands Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
West Yorkshire Police
Described · In-force interview
A chance for the force to meet you and gather more on your suitability: CVF-based questions with probing follow-ups, covering past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based questions. The page was last reviewed in July 2026.
Panel, as the page describes it: A panel
Force page · PolicePay West Yorkshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
Wiltshire Police
Described · Interview (final interview)
Step 3, after the online assessment centre: a final interview based on competencies and values, which the page says is conducted online, with guidance sent beforehand.
Force page · PolicePay Wiltshire Police jobs page · checked 1 October 2026
What the stage usually looks like, where forces describe it
There is no single national script. The College's adjustments guide refers to an "in-force interview candidate preparation guide", which we could not find published, and forces describe the stage in their own words. Across the pages we read, these patterns came up:
- A panel of officers and staff. 14 pages describe the panel. Where they do, it is serving officers and police staff, usually two or three people.
- CVF-based questions. 26 of the 40 descriptions tie the stage to the College's Competency and Values Framework or to competencies: three values (courage, respect and empathy, public service) and six competencies, at level 1 for new constables. Others describe it in terms of force values, the Code of Ethics, motivation or the candidate specification, or give no detail.
- More than past examples. 5 force pages (Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Northamptonshire Police, Northumbria Police, Staffordshire Police and West Yorkshire Police) list past-focused, future-focused and scenario-based questions. Several also mention probing or follow-up questions. Gwent says it may ask how you would deal with certain circumstances.
- Knowledge of the force. 7 pages (Cumbria Constabulary, Dyfed-Powys Police, Gwent Police, Lancashire Constabulary, Lincolnshire Police, North Wales Police and Northumbria Police) say the interview covers, or point you to, the force itself: its values, priorities, local issues or Police and Crime Plan, or your understanding of the force.
- Other frameworks. 3 pages (Hertfordshire Constabulary, Norfolk Constabulary and Suffolk Constabulary) mention the Policing Principles; Cleveland and North Wales mention the Code of Ethics; West Midlands calls its stage a strengths-based interview.
- More than an interview. 6 pages put other activity in the same stage or visit, such as a fitness test, biometrics, a medical or extra exercises: Avon and Somerset Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Devon and Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Dyfed-Powys Police and Essex Police.
Where force pages give a length or describe the panel, this is what they say:
| Force | Length as stated | Panel as stated |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire Constabulary | Not stated | A panel |
| Cheshire Constabulary | 30 to 45 minutes (interview) | Trained operational officers and police staff representatives |
| Cumbria Constabulary | About 30 minutes | Two people, usually a sergeant and a constable |
| Devon and Cornwall Police | About 40 minutes | Police officers and staff |
| Dorset Police | Up to 40 minutes | Police officers and staff |
| Essex Police | Not stated | Serving officers and staff |
| Gwent Police | About 30 minutes | Not stated |
| Hertfordshire Constabulary | About 30 minutes | Not stated |
| Kent Police | Not stated | Serving police officers or staff |
| Norfolk Constabulary | 60 minutes | Not stated |
| North Wales Police | About 45 minutes | Not stated |
| Northamptonshire Police | Not stated | A panel |
| Northumbria Police | Up to 1.5 hours | Not stated |
| Nottinghamshire Police | Not stated | An officer and a member of police staff |
| South Wales Police | Not stated | Police staff, usually two people |
| Staffordshire Police | Not stated | A panel |
| Suffolk Constabulary | 60 minutes | Not stated |
| Surrey Police | Not stated | Two Surrey Police employees |
| West Mercia Police | Not stated | Usually two or three people who work for the force |
| West Yorkshire Police | Not stated | A panel |
A few forces do something different enough to know about in advance. Cheshire runs an in-person assessment first, with the bleep test, a communications exercise, an immersive virtual reality exercise and a scenario question, before the interview. Dyfed-Powys pairs its interview with a role-based evaluation (a team-building exercise and a scenario-based assessment). Leicestershire says some candidates may be asked to give a presentation, with a brief sent in advance. North Wales lets you choose English, Welsh or both. Kent's page says six questions and Gwent's says four. Warwickshire's page says its questions are provided by the College of Policing.
How the force interview differs from the OAC interview
Candidates often mix up the two interviews because both are competency-based. They are separate stages with separate rules. The OAC column below comes from the College's candidate guide (updated 21 July 2026); the force column comes from the force pages we read.
| OAC competency-based interview | Force interview | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | The College of Policing, on the Tazio online platform, for the force you applied to | Your force, with its own panel; format set locally |
| Legal basis | Reg 10(1)(eb)(iii): pass the online assessment process | Reg 10(1)(eb)(iv): pass an in-person interview with the force that meets the national standard |
| Format | Recorded video answers to a pre-recorded assessor; no live interviewer | A live conversation with a panel; 1 force page we read said the final interview is online |
| Questions | Five questions, each with on-screen prompts | Varies: Kent's page says six questions, Gwent's says four; others do not give a number |
| Timing | 60 seconds to think, up to 300 seconds to answer each question; about 40 minutes | Varies: 10 force pages give a length, ranging from about 30 minutes to up to 1.5 hours |
| Follow-up questions | None: there is no live interviewer to ask follow-up questions | Several force pages say the panel probes or asks further questions |
| Question types | Past behaviour: how you dealt with situations | Some force pages add future-focused and scenario questions, and motivation or knowledge of the force |
| What is assessed | Courage, public service, respect and empathy, we take ownership, we are innovative and open-minded | CVF-based on the pages that say; some add force values, the Code of Ethics or the Policing Principles |
| Notes | No prepared notes or scripts; evidence of them may mean an automatic fail | Set by the force; ask before you assume either way |
The practical difference is the live panel. In the OAC you deliver a self-contained answer to a camera. In a force interview, where pages describe probing questions, you may be asked why you did something, what you would do differently or what happened next, so you need to know your examples in depth, not just as a five-minute summary. Our in-person interview guide covers this in more detail, and the OAC interview guide covers the online stage.
Where the force interview sits in the process
The usual order on the force pages we read is below. Several forces change the order or combine steps, so treat this as the common pattern, not a rule.
- Application form with eligibility checks, sometimes with a force briefing or familiarisation session (Essex describes a mandatory briefing).
- National sift: the College's situational judgement test and behavioural styles questionnaire.
- Online assessment process (OAC): competency-based interview, written exercise and briefing exercise.
- Force interview, sometimes on the same day as a fitness test, medical, biometrics or other exercises.
- Conditional or provisional offer and pre-employment checks: vetting, medical, fitness, references, biometrics and, at some forces, substance misuse testing.
- Formal offer and start date, usually tied to an intake.
Variations we found on force pages:
- Thames Valley lists a provisional offer after the OAC and before its interview.
- Avon and Somerset says fitness testing and biometrics may take place before the assessment centre is finished.
- Cheshire runs an in-person assessment day before the interview.
- Sussex and Northamptonshire say a previous OAC pass can take you to their interview, with different time limits.
- Gloucestershire's timetable showed interviews in winter 2026/27 for a June 2027 intake.
The free recruitment timeline planner lays out the stages from application to start date so you can see where the force interview falls for you. Timescales vary by force and intake; it is a planning aid, not a promise of dates.
How to prepare for a force interview, step by step
This is general preparation advice from PolicePay, built on what the force pages say. It is not a script, it is not endorsed by any force, and it cannot guarantee a result.
- Read your force's page and your invitation first. Note the length, the setting (in person or online), what to bring and whether anything else happens on the day. Several forces ask you to bring valid ID; Derbyshire and Leicestershire mention proof of qualifications.
- Re-read the CVF at level 1. Know the three values and six competencies in your own words. See the CVF explained.
- Research the force. Its values, priorities, the communities it serves and its Police and Crime Commissioner's plan. Several forces say they will ask about this.
- Prepare honest examples you can talk about in depth. Use real situations from work, study, volunteering, family or clubs. Do not invent or embellish: a panel can probe, and honesty runs through the whole process, including vetting. Derbyshire says the evidence you give must be your own and that it will reject applications where AI use is identified.
- Practise all three question types. Past-focused (a time you did something), future-focused (what you would do) and scenario questions. For "what would you do" questions, say what you would do first, why, and how you would follow it up.
- Practise being probed. Ask someone to follow each answer with "why did you do that?" and "what would you do differently?" Use "I", not "we", so the panel can credit your part.
- Prepare your motivation answer. Why policing, and why this force. See why do you want to join the police?
- Ask early about reasonable adjustments. The College's adjustments guide says you may receive extra time for the in-force interview, including extra preparation and response time, and that you request it through the force.
Rehearse out loud with the mock interview: the free version lets you choose in-person practice mode, pick a CVF value, see common questions and use a 3-minute timer. Check the structure of a written-out answer with the free STAR answer checker. Both are independent practice, not your force's format, and neither predicts your result. Personal feedback on your own answers is an optional paid feature of the mock interview.
What people get wrong about the final interview
- "Only some forces do a final interview." Out of date. Since 17 March 2026 the regulations require an in-person interview with the force for constable candidates (other than transferees), and 40 of 43 force pages we read described one.
- "The OAC interview was the final interview." No. The OAC is a College exercise; the force interview is a separate, later stage run by the force.
- "If the force's page doesn't mention it, there isn't one." A page saying nothing tells you nothing. For 3 forces we could not find the stage described, but the law still requires it.
- "It's the same everywhere." The force pages we read give lengths from about 30 minutes to up to 1.5 hours, panels of two or three, different question types and different things happening on the same day.
- "It's always face to face." The regulation says in-person, and 21 force pages describe attending, but 1 force page (Wiltshire Police) says its final interview is conducted online. Go by your invitation.
- "A pass at interview means you've got the job." On the pages we read, a pass leads to a conditional or provisional offer. Vetting, medical, fitness and references still have to be cleared, and several forces advise you not to resign from your current job until you have a formal offer.
- "You can learn the answers." The questions are not published and panels probe. Learn your examples, not a script, and never use made-up or AI-written examples.
What happens after the force interview
If you pass, the force pages we read describe a conditional or provisional offer followed by pre-employment checks. Timescales vary: Warwickshire says around twelve weeks for its checks, and Norfolk and Suffolk say three to six months. Results also come back differently: Leicestershire says within five working days with panel feedback, while Cheshire says it does not give feedback on the interview.
If you are unsuccessful, your application usually stops at that stage. Rules on when you can reapply are set by the force, so check its page and ask. See what happens if you fail the police interview and when you can reapply.
What to ask your force, and who to contact
Questions worth asking the recruitment team if your invitation does not answer them:
- Is the interview in person or online, where, and how long is it?
- Who will be on the panel, and how many questions are there?
- Will there be follow-up or scenario questions, or a presentation?
- Can I take notes in, or will I be given preparation time with the questions?
- Is anything else happening that day: a fitness test, medical, biometrics or another exercise?
- What should I bring (ID, proof of qualifications, other documents)?
- How and when will I get my result, and will I get feedback?
- How do I request a reasonable adjustment, and by when?
- If I am unsuccessful, when can I apply again?
Contact the force's recruitment team through the details on its own page (linked in the table). For questions about the national sift or online assessment platform, the force will tell you when to contact the College. For anything about reasonable adjustments, start with the force.
How we checked
- On 1 October 2026 we opened each force's own careers or recruitment pages for police constables, starting from the officer page linked on the national Joining the Police site, and followed links to the force's recruitment process, application process or interview guidance pages.
- We recorded "described" only where the force's page or document named a force interview or face-to-face force assessment after the online assessment. One force (North Yorkshire) calls the stage a face-to-face competency-based assessment rather than an interview; we counted it and say so in its row.
- Setting, length and panel are recorded only where the page says them. Where a page implies something without saying it, we left the field as not stated.
- We did not complete robot checks, create accounts or contact forces. Where a page was blocked or missing, the row says so.
- Descriptions are our paraphrases, not quotations. Counts on this page are calculated from the same data, so they update together.
- Some forces' pages share wording (for example, Norfolk and Suffolk describe a joint process, and several forces use near-identical text about past, future and scenario questions). We recorded each force from its own page.
What we could not verify
- City of London Police, Greater Manchester Police and Hampshire Constabulary. We could not find their recruitment stages described on the pages we could read on 1 October 2026. Ask those forces directly; the regulation still requires a force interview for constable candidates.
- What "in-person" means in the regulation. Regulation 10(1)(eb)(iv) says "in-person interview", and 1 force page (Wiltshire Police) says its final interview is online. We could not find College guidance explaining whether a live video interview meets the requirement. If this matters to you, ask the force.
- The College's national standard for the interview and its in-force interview candidate preparation guide. The adjustments guide refers to the preparation guide, but we could not find a public copy.
- Scoring and pass marks. None of the force pages we read publishes how the force interview is scored or what mark you need, and we found no official pass rate for this stage.
- Whether every page is current. We record what each page said on 1 October 2026. Some pages show signs of age (Cleveland's mentions Adobe Flash for the online assessment), and a force can change its process without updating its website. Your invitation is the authority.
- The national recruitment site. The Joining the Police "get ready to apply" page we read on 1 October 2026 describes the application, sift, online assessment, medical, fitness and vetting but did not describe a separate force interview. We rely on the regulation and the force pages for this stage.
- Other routes and roles. This page covers police constable recruitment. Special constable, PCSO, detective and transferee processes can differ; see assessment by entry route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which police forces have a final interview?
For police constable recruitment in England and Wales, the law requires one in every force: since 17 March 2026, regulation 10(1)(eb) of the Police Regulations 2003 says candidates (other than transferees) must pass an in-person interview with the force after the national sift and online assessment. When we read all 43 forces' recruitment pages on 1 October 2026, 40 described this stage and for 3 we could not find it described.
Is the police final interview compulsory?
Yes, for police constable candidates in England and Wales who are not transferring from another force. Regulation 10(1)(eb)(iv) of the Police Regulations 2003, inserted by SI 2026/154 from 17 March 2026, requires you to pass an in-person interview with the force you are applying to, meeting the College of Policing's national standard of competencies and values.
Is the final interview the same as the OAC interview?
No. The OAC competency-based interview is a recorded online exercise set by the College of Policing: five questions, 60 seconds to think and up to five minutes to answer each, with no live interviewer. The force interview comes after it, is run by your force with a live panel, and its format, length and question types are set locally.
How long is the police final interview?
It depends on the force. Of the 43 forces' pages we read, 10 gave a length: Cheshire Constabulary (30 to 45 minutes (interview)); Cumbria Constabulary (about 30 minutes); Devon and Cornwall Police (about 40 minutes); Dorset Police (up to 40 minutes); Gwent Police (about 30 minutes); Hertfordshire Constabulary (about 30 minutes); Norfolk Constabulary (60 minutes); North Wales Police (about 45 minutes); Northumbria Police (up to 1.5 hours); Suffolk Constabulary (60 minutes). The rest did not say. Your invitation is the authority for your own interview.
Is the police final interview in person or online?
The regulation calls it an in-person interview. On 1 October 2026, 21 force pages said it is attended in person or face to face, 1 (Wiltshire Police) said its final interview is conducted online, and the rest did not say. Check your invitation, and ask the force if it is unclear.
Who is on the police interview panel?
Where force pages say, the panel is serving officers and police staff, usually two or three people. Examples: Cumbria says usually a sergeant and a constable; Surrey says two of its employees; South Wales says police staff, usually two; West Mercia says two or three. 14 of 43 pages describe the panel at all.
What questions are asked in the police final interview?
Force pages describe questions based on the College's Competency and Values Framework. Several list past-focused questions (a time you did something), future-focused questions (what you would do) and scenario questions, followed by probing questions. Some also cover your motivation, your knowledge of the force and its area, the Code of Ethics or the Policing Principles. The actual questions are not published.
Do I need to research the force before the final interview?
Several forces say so on their own pages. Lincolnshire asks you to research the force and policing issues in the county; Northumbria says you may be asked about current issues that matter to the force and its communities; North Wales bases its interview partly on your research into the force and the Police and Crime Commissioner's office; Cumbria points to its Police and Crime Plan.
Do transferees have to do the force interview?
The legal requirement in regulation 10(1)(eb) does not apply to candidates transferring from another police force. Forces still run their own transfer processes, which can include an interview: Essex's transfer page, for example, lists an interview with vetting, medical, references and a fitness test. Check the force's transferee page.
What happens after the police final interview?
On the force pages we read, a pass usually leads to a conditional or provisional offer and pre-employment checks such as vetting, medical, fitness test, references and biometrics, before a formal offer and start date. The order varies: Thames Valley lists a provisional offer before its interview, and some forces combine the interview with fitness tests or biometrics on the same day.
Can I reuse an OAC pass to go straight to a force interview?
Some forces say you can, but their rules differ. Sussex's FAQ says a pass at its required mark within the last 12 months can take you straight to its force interview; Northamptonshire's page says a previous pass with any force can be used for 24 months. Ask the force you are applying to, because the rule that applies is theirs.
Do you get feedback after the police force interview?
It depends on the force. Leicestershire says you get your result within five working days with feedback from the panel. Cheshire says it cannot give feedback on the application form or interview because of the number of applications. The other force pages we read did not say, so ask the recruitment team.
What is the pass rate for the police final interview?
We do not know, and we do not publish one. None of the force pages we read gave a pass rate or pass mark for the force interview, and we could not find official national figures for this stage. Be wary of any site that quotes one without a source.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 1 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 Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/527), regulation 10, latest revised text on legislation.gov.uk (read 1 October 2026) — reg 10(1)(eb): the four stages for constable candidates, including an in-person interview with the force to the national standard; transferee exception; definitions of national standard and online assessment process in reg 10(3) (accessed 1 October 2026)
- The Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/154), as made — inserted reg 10(1)(eb) from 17 March 2026; extends to England and Wales (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing news: Police constable recruitment regulations change (17 March 2026), read via the College's production mirror because the main site blocks automated reading — all forces must use the four-stage process, ending with a face-to-face interview with the force; the College says almost all forces already did (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Online assessment process candidate guide (updated 21 July 2026), read via the production mirror — OAC competency-based interview: five questions, 60 seconds thinking, 300 seconds answering, about 40 minutes, values and competencies assessed, prepared notes rule (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Reasonable adjustments and accommodations guide for online assessments candidates (updated 25 August 2026), read via the production mirror — covers the in-force interview; extra preparation and response time possible; request through the force; refers to an in-force interview candidate preparation guide (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Competency and values framework (CVF 2024), read via the production mirror — three values and six competencies; level 1 (practitioner) (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Joining the Police (national recruitment site): Get ready to apply (read 1 October 2026) — national description of the stages; we did not find a separate force interview stage described on this page (accessed 1 October 2026)
- The 43 force recruitment pages linked in the table, each read on 1 October 2026 — every force row on this page, including what the stage is called, setting, length, panel and description (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Cheshire Constabulary: The recruitment process (read 1 October 2026) — example of an in-person assessment day before the force interview (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Wiltshire Police: Application and recruitment process (read 1 October 2026) — the one force page we read that says its final interview is conducted online (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Essex Police: Transfer and promotion opportunities (read 1 October 2026) — example of a transferee process that includes an interview (accessed 1 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Free tools for applicants
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force, and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Recruitment standards, assessment formats and vetting decisions are set by the College of Policing and each force and change from time to time: check the force you are applying to before relying on anything here. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 1 October 2026.