Police Entry
Requirements 2026
Every requirement to become a police constable in England and Wales, taken from the current Police Regulations and the College of Policing, including the two changes made in 2026. What is a legal rule, what is national guidance and what each force decides for itself.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 1 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
To be appointed a constable in England and Wales you must be 18 (you can apply at 17), be a UK or EEA national or have indefinite leave to remain, hold a qualification or experience your force accepts (usually level 3), meet the health, eyesight and fitness standards, have no automatically disqualifying offences, pass vetting and pass the four national recruitment stages. Forces can add local rules.
This page covers police constables in England and Wales. Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland run separate systems with their own rules. Where a requirement is set by law we cite the regulation; where it is national guidance we say so; and where each force decides, we tell you that rather than guess a number. Nothing here is a decision about you: only the force you apply to can make that.
Before reading the detail, our free police eligibility check gives a rough read on the areas most likely to need attention (vetting, debt, convictions, fitness). It is a heuristic, not an official assessment, but it tells you which sections below matter most for you.
What changed in 2026: two new legal rules
Most guides to joining the police were written before 2026 and miss two changes to regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003, the regulation that lists the qualifications for appointment to a police force.
| From | Change | Made by |
|---|---|---|
| 17 March 2026 | Constable candidates (other than transferees) must complete and submit the national application form, pass the national sift test, pass the online assessment process and pass an in-person interview with the force that meets the national standard, within the times and to the standard set by the College of Policing (regulation 10(1)(eb)). | Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/154 |
| 13 July 2026 | Candidates (other than officers transferring) must not have engaged in conduct that attracts automatic disqualification (regulation 10(1)(ha) and (2A)), and must hold vetting clearance under the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 (regulation 10(1)(hb)). Clearance must be granted within six months before appointment. | Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/653 |
The College of Policing said when the first change took effect that almost all forces were already using the four-stage process before it became a legal requirement, so for most applicants the practical difference is consistency: every force now has to use it. The second change matters more for anyone with a criminal record, because some convictions and cautions are now a fixed legal bar rather than a matter for the vetting unit's judgement. Our criminal record guide sets out the listed offences in full.
The full checklist: law, national guidance and force rules
This table is the whole answer in one place. "Law" means regulation 10 or another statutory rule. "National guidance" means College of Policing or Home Office material that forces are expected to follow but that leaves room for judgement. "Force" means each force decides.
| Requirement | What it says | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Apply from 17; 18 before appointment; no upper limit in the regulations | Law (reg 10(1)(ba), (c)) |
| Nationality | UK or EEA national, or indefinite leave to enter or remain | Law (reg 10(1)(a)) |
| Residency | Normally three years' continuous UK residency immediately before applying, with exceptions | National guidance (College), applied by force vetting units |
| Qualifications | A qualification or experience the chief officer selects from the Home Office list: usually level 3 for PCDA and PCEP, a degree for DHEP | Law (reg 10(1)(ea)) plus Annex BA; force chooses from the list |
| English and numeracy | Satisfy the chief officer by passing approved assessments | Law (reg 10(1)(f)) |
| Recruitment stages | National application form, national sift, online assessment process, in-person force interview | Law since 17 March 2026 (reg 10(1)(eb)); standards set by the College |
| Criminal record | Automatic disqualification for listed conduct; other convictions and cautions assessed at vetting | Law since 13 July 2026 (reg 10(2A); Vetting Regulations reg 4D) |
| Vetting clearance | Granted by the force within six months before appointment | Law (reg 10(1)(hb); Vetting Regulations reg 4B) |
| Finances | Credit checks; outstanding CCJs and recent bankruptcy likely to lead to a decline | National guidance, applied by vetting |
| Health | Certified fit for the duties by an approved doctor; individual assessment | Law (reg 10(1)(d)); Home Office standards; force occupational health decides |
| Eyesight | Home Office eyesight determination (2019) | Law (reg 10(1)(e)) |
| Fitness | 15m multi-stage fitness test to level 5.4 | National standard (College) |
| Drug test, fingerprints, DNA | Hair, oral fluid or urine test on request; fingerprints and a sample taken as a condition of an offer | Law (reg 10(1)(i), reg 10A) |
| Driving licence, swimming | Whether essential is decided locally | Force |
| Tattoos and appearance | Not if discriminatory, offensive or inconsistent with the Code of Ethics; local policy on detail | National guidance plus force policy |
Age: 17 to apply, 18 to be appointed, no upper limit in law
Regulation 10(1)(ba) says a candidate must have reached 17, and regulation 10(1)(c) says they must have reached 18 before being appointed. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance puts it the same way: you may apply at 17 and take up appointment at 18 or above.
There is no upper age limit in regulation 10. The national recruitment site says there is no upper age limit but reminds applicants that normal retirement age is 60 and that new constables have to complete a probation period. That 60 is the normal pension age of the 2015 police pension scheme, set by section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013. It is the age from which your police pension is paid without reduction, not a date by which you must leave. Probation is two years on the degree holder and entry programme routes and three years on the apprenticeship, according to the College.
Some force pages publish their own suggested upper age. We have not checked every force, so if you are in your fifties ask the force directly how it treats later applicants. Our police age limit guide goes through each age band.
Nationality, immigration status and the three-year residency rule
Regulation 10(1)(a) says a candidate who is not a national of the United Kingdom or of an EEA state must have leave to enter or remain in the UK for an indefinite period. "National of the United Kingdom" is defined in regulation 10(3)(ab) as a British citizen, a British subject with the right of abode, or a British overseas territories citizen through a connection with Gibraltar. Section 82 of the Police Reform Act 2002 allows a person of any nationality to be a member of a police force, subject to those qualifications.
The College of Policing guidance adds that EEA nationals may hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and that all candidates must pass right-to-work checks. In practice a time-limited visa does not meet regulation 10(1)(a) for someone who is not a UK or EEA national, because the regulation requires indefinite leave.
Residency is separate from nationality. The College guidance says candidates should have three years' minimum continual residency immediately before applying, because vetting cannot make meaningful enquiries in many countries. It allows exceptions for service with HM Government or the armed forces, and for around 12 months overseas treated as an extended holiday, such as a gap year. It also says that if you have lived abroad for more than three months within the last three years, a force is unlikely to be able to obtain enough information to grant vetting clearance. Forces decide case by case. See our nationality and residency guide and the vetting guide to overseas travel and residency.
Qualifications and entry routes: no degree needed to apply
Regulation 10(1)(ea) requires a "selected qualification or experience": something the chief officer selects from a list determined by the Home Secretary. The current list is Annex BA, amended from 1 April 2024 by Home Office Circular 002/2024. From that date constables enter through one of four routes.
| Route | Qualifications or experience forces can accept | Length and probation | You finish with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA) | Level 3 qualification; overseas equivalent; training or work experience the chief officer considers equivalent; a period as a special constable, PCSO or in police employment that the chief officer specifies | Three years; three-year probation | Degree in professional policing practice |
| Police constable entry programme (PCEP) | Two years; two-year probation | No qualification as standard; the College's 2026 guide says forces have the option to accredit it at level 5 | |
| Degree holder entry programme (DHEP) | A level 6 degree in any subject other than the policing degree, or an overseas equivalent | Two years; two-year probation | Graduate diploma in professional policing practice |
| Pre-join degree in policing | A level 6 degree in policing meeting the College specification | Degree studied before applying (self-funded); a short programme on joining | You already hold the degree |
The national recruitment site describes the minimum as a level 3 qualification, defined as two A levels or an equivalent. For the apprenticeship, the College's entry routes page mentions level 2 English and maths; the current government guidance says that is required for apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start and optional for those aged 19 or over if the employer agrees. Not every force runs every route at every intake, and some add their own criteria. Our qualifications guide explains level 3, overseas qualifications and equivalent experience, and the route pages explain PCEP and the pre-join degree.
Criminal record: the 2026 automatic disqualification rule
Since 13 July 2026, regulation 10(2A) says conduct attracts automatic disqualification if the candidate:
- was convicted of an offence for which the court imposed a custodial sentence;
- is, or has been, subject to sex offender notification requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003;
- was convicted of, or cautioned for, a listed offence in Schedule 3A (for example stalking, sexual offences, possession of indecent images of children, forced marriage and breach of a domestic abuse protection order), or convicted of an attempt or conspiracy to commit one;
- was convicted of, or cautioned for, an offence determined to involve behaviour amounting to domestic abuse within the meaning of section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
For everything else, the amended Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 say a candidate who has been convicted or cautioned is not suitable to hold vetting clearance "unless there are particular circumstances" that justify treating them as suitable. That is a strong presumption, but not an absolute bar. The College of Policing guidance also says the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to police officers, so spent convictions and cautions must be declared, and that an undeclared offence found during vetting leads to the application being discontinued.
Declare every conviction, caution, reprimand, warning, fixed penalty, investigation and arrest the form asks about, even if it is old or you think it is spent. The national recruitment site says failure to disclose will result in your application being rejected. Our criminal record guide and the vetting impact checker help you understand where you stand before you apply.
Money, debt and vetting
Vetting includes a credit reference check. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance lists the information checked (accounts, electoral roll, bankruptcy, county court judgments, defaults, 12 months' payment history and recent credit applications) and says the aim is to see whether an applicant has been, is or is likely to be in financial difficulty, or shows financial irresponsibility that could make them vulnerable to inducement.
The national recruitment site says applicants should be able to manage existing debt, that an outstanding CCJ or an undischarged bankruptcy is likely to lead to rejection, and that vetting is likely to be declined if a bankruptcy was discharged, or a debt relief order finalised, less than three years ago. Debt in itself, such as a mortgage, car finance or a student loan you are repaying, is not described as a bar. The detail, with sources, is in our guide can I join the police with debt.
Vetting also covers your family, partner, co-residents and associates, and open-source and social media checks. Clearance has to be granted within the six months before your appointment, and you must tell the vetting unit about any change in your circumstances while you wait.
Health, eyesight and fitness
Health. Regulation 10(1)(d) requires an approved doctor to certify that you are in good health and fit, physically and mentally, for the duties. The Home Office medical standards (Circular 59/2004) say candidates must not be excluded automatically because of a medical condition or disability; each case is assessed on its merits, with reasonable adjustments considered. The national recruitment site says a condition such as asthma or diabetes does not mean you cannot become an officer if it is well managed. See joining with a medical condition and mental health, ADHD, autism and dyslexia.
Eyesight. Regulation 10(1)(e) requires the Home Office eyesight standard. Since 16 September 2019 that is: corrected distance vision of 6/12 in either eye and 6/6 or better with both eyes; corrected near vision of 6/9 or better with both eyes; corrected low-contrast distance vision of 6/12 for a 10% contrast target; a visual field of at least 120 degrees horizontally and 100 vertically. Glasses and contact lenses are acceptable. On colour vision, only monochromats are rejected. The full figures are in our eyesight standards guide.
Fitness. The College of Policing job-related fitness test is the 15-metre multi-stage fitness test, and completing it to level 5.4 is a requirement for recruitment. Some forces offer a treadmill alternative where a condition prevents the shuttle run, according to the national recruitment site. Start with the fitness hub or the fitness pass predictor.
Driving licence, tattoos, politics, drug testing and the rest
- Driving licence. The College guidance says each force decides locally, at its discretion, whether driving is essential. The national recruitment site says you normally need a full UK manual licence, depending on the force, and some forces set a maximum number of points. Driving licence rules in detail.
- Swimming. Also a local decision; the College says applications should not be rejected for inability to swim unless the force can justify it.
- Tattoos. Visible tattoos are unacceptable only if they could reasonably be seen as discriminatory or offensive or show views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards of professional behaviour. Forces may ask for photographs. See tattoos, piercings and appearance.
- Political organisations. The College guidance names the British National Party, Combat 18 and the National Front as organisations officers may not belong to, and says membership of any organisation likely to interfere with impartial duty should lead to rejection.
- Drug testing. Unless you are transferring, you must give a hair, oral fluid or urine sample for a controlled drugs test if the chief officer asks (regulation 10(1)(i)). See past drug use and vetting.
- Fingerprints and DNA. An offer is conditional on fingerprints and a sample being taken and searched against police records (regulation 10A).
- References. Forces should verify at least five years of employment or education history, and check unexplained gaps of more than six months, according to the College guidance.
- Previous police service. If you have served in a force, the armed forces, the civil service or as a seaman, you must produce satisfactory proof of good conduct (regulation 10(1)(b)). The national recruitment site lists being on the police barred list as a mandatory rejection.
- Part-time and job share. Regulation 5 lets a chief officer appoint people to part-time service in any rank, including job shares. Whether that is available during initial training is a force decision.
How the requirements are checked, stage by stage
The four national stages are now a legal requirement for constable candidates. Medical, fitness, references and vetting follow. The order of the later checks varies between forces.
- Eligibility and the national application form. The form contains the College's complete set of questions for confirming your eligibility. See our application form guide.
- National sift. Online tests of judgement and behaviours. See the national sift hub.
- Online assessment process. A competency-based interview, a written exercise and a briefing exercise. See the online assessment hub.
- In-person interview with the force. It must meet the national standard.
- Medical and fitness. A health declaration, a medical assessment and the bleep test.
- References, vetting, biometrics and drug test. Vetting clearance can only be applied for after the four recruitment stages and must be granted within six months of your start date.
- Offer and start date. Usually tied to the force's next intake.
The national recruitment site says recruitment often takes around four to six months but varies by force. Our free recruitment timeline planner maps the stages to dates, and the application timing explorer helps you think about when to apply around your current job and finances.
What your force can add on top
The national recruitment site says forces may apply their own local criteria in addition to the national ones. The areas where we have seen force-level rules, or where the national guidance leaves the decision to the force, are:
- which entry routes are open, and when;
- whether a driving licence is essential and how many penalty points are acceptable;
- GCSE requirements on top of the level 3 minimum;
- tattoo, piercing and appearance policies;
- how equivalent experience is judged for applicants without a level 3 qualification;
- part-time or flexible training options;
- the occupational health provider and the medical process;
- when you can reapply after an unsuccessful application (the College's guidance is three months, but forces can decide locally).
Our police jobs pages link to each force's official recruitment page, so you can read the local criteria before you start a form, and the police force finder compares forces on pay, allowances and location.
Before you apply: what to check and who to ask
Things worth doing before you start an application:
- Gather proof of your qualifications, or details of the experience you will rely on instead.
- Write out your address history and employment or education history for at least five years, with dates, and an explanation for any gap over six months.
- Check your credit file and deal with anything outstanding, such as an unsatisfied CCJ.
- List every conviction, caution, fixed penalty and police contact you can remember, with dates.
- Have an optician check your eyes against the standard if you are unsure.
- Start training for the 15m bleep test.
- Read the recruitment page of the force you want to join for any local criteria.
Questions to put to a force recruitment team or vetting unit, which can give confidential advice:
- Which entry routes are you recruiting for, and when is the next intake?
- Do you require a driving licence, and do you have a limit on penalty points?
- I lived abroad between these dates: can you obtain enough checkable history?
- I have this conviction or caution: is it a listed offence, and how would you assess it?
- I have this medical condition: what evidence will occupational health want?
- Do you offer part-time or flexible training for new recruits?
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Common myths about police entry requirements
- "The age limit is 18 to 57." Regulation 10 sets a minimum age and no maximum. Some forces publish guidance on later applicants, but there is no national upper limit.
- "There is a compulsory retirement age of 60." 60 is the normal pension age of the 2015 police pension scheme. We found no compulsory retirement age for constables in the Police Regulations 2003.
- "You need a degree to join." Only the degree holder route needs a degree. The apprenticeship and entry programme accept a level 3 qualification or equivalent experience.
- "Any caution means you can never join." Since July 2026 cautions for listed offences and domestic abuse offences do automatically disqualify, and other cautions create a strong presumption against clearance, but forces can still find particular circumstances that justify clearance.
- "Spent convictions do not need declaring." The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to police officers, according to the College; declare them.
- "Asthma, glasses or colour blindness rule you out." None is an automatic bar. Asthma is assessed individually, glasses and contact lenses are allowed, and only monochromats are rejected on colour vision.
- "Any debt fails vetting." Manageable debt is not described as a bar. Outstanding CCJs and recent bankruptcy are the main problems.
- "You must be British." EEA nationals, and others with indefinite leave to remain, can be appointed under regulation 10.
What we could not verify
- The full content of the national application form. Regulation 10 defines it as the College's complete set of eligibility questions, but we have not seen a published copy of the 2026 form.
- Each force's local criteria. We have not checked all 43 forces; use the force finder and read the force page.
- How "particular circumstances" in the Vetting Regulations will be applied in practice since 13 July 2026. No national statistics on clearance decisions under the new rule have been published that we could find.
- Who determines whether an offence "involves behaviour amounting to domestic abuse" under regulation 10(2A)(e). The regulation does not say in that paragraph; ask the force vetting unit.
- Whether the Home Office will replace the 2004 medical standards. We found no newer national standard.
- How Swiss nationals are treated. Switzerland is not an EEA state; ask the force.
If anything on this page is out of date, the regulation text on legislation.gov.uk and the force's own recruitment page take priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the entry requirements to become a police officer in the UK?
In England and Wales regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003 sets the legal minimum: aged 18 to be appointed (you can apply at 17), British or EEA national or indefinite leave to remain, a qualification or experience from the Home Office list (usually level 3), good health, the eyesight standard, no automatically disqualifying offences, vetting clearance, and passing the four national recruitment stages. Forces can add local criteria.
What is the minimum age to join the police?
You can apply from 17 but must be 18 before you are appointed. Regulation 10(1)(ba) requires a candidate to have reached 17 and regulation 10(1)(c) requires 18 before appointment.
Is there an upper age limit to join the police?
Regulation 10 sets no upper age limit. The national recruitment site says there is no upper age limit but reminds applicants that normal retirement age is 60 and probation lasts two years (three on the apprenticeship). 60 is the normal pension age of the 2015 police pension scheme under the Public Service Pensions Act 2013, not a legal leaving age.
Do you need a degree to be a police officer?
No. The Home Office list of qualifications (Annex BA, 2024) lets forces accept a level 3 qualification such as two A levels, an overseas equivalent, equivalent training or work experience, or service as a special constable, PCSO or in a police force for the apprenticeship and Police Constable Entry Programme routes. A degree is only needed for the degree holder route.
Can I join the police if I am not British?
Possibly. Regulation 10(1)(a) says a candidate who is not a UK or EEA national must have leave to enter or remain in the UK for an indefinite period. The College of Policing says EEA nationals may hold settled or pre-settled status. You also normally need three years' continuous UK residency for vetting.
Can I join the police with a criminal record?
It depends on the record. Since 13 July 2026 a custodial sentence, sex offender notification, a conviction or caution for a listed offence, or a domestic abuse conviction or caution automatically disqualifies you. Any other conviction or caution makes you unsuitable for vetting clearance unless particular circumstances justify otherwise. Declare everything honestly.
What GCSEs do you need to be a police officer?
Regulation 10 does not list GCSEs. On the police constable degree apprenticeship in England, the government's apprenticeship rules require level 2 English and maths for apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start; for those aged 19 or over it is optional and depends on the employer. Some forces set their own GCSE criteria, so check the force page.
Do I need a driving licence to join the police?
Not under the regulations. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance says whether driving is essential is a local force decision, and the national recruitment site says you normally need a full UK manual licence but it depends on the force, and some forces set a maximum number of penalty points.
Can I join the police with tattoos?
Usually, yes. The College of Policing says visible tattoos are unacceptable if they could reasonably be seen as discriminatory or offensive or show views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards of professional behaviour. Each force applies its own policy and may ask for photographs.
What are the eyesight requirements for the police?
The Home Office determination from 16 September 2019 requires corrected distance vision of 6/12 in either eye and 6/6 with both eyes, corrected near vision of 6/9 with both eyes, a low-contrast standard and a minimum visual field. Glasses and contact lenses are allowed. Only monochromats are rejected on colour vision.
Can I join the police with asthma or another medical condition?
Often, yes. Home Office medical standards (HOC 59/2004) say no one should be excluded automatically because of a medical condition or disability, and each case is assessed on its merits. Asthma is listed as likely to need further information and assessment, not as a bar. The force's occupational health team decides.
How long do I need to have lived in the UK to join the police?
Normally three years' continuous residency immediately before applying, so that vetting checks are possible. The College of Policing allows exceptions for HM Government or armed forces service overseas and for about 12 months abroad as an extended holiday. Forces decide case by case.
Can I work part time as a new police officer?
Regulation 5 of the Police Regulations 2003 lets a chief officer appoint people to part-time service, including job shares, in any rank. Whether a force offers part-time or flexible training for new recruits is a local decision, so ask the force before you apply.
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 (legislation.gov.uk) — every legal qualification for appointment, including the 2026 additions (eb), (ha), (hb) and paragraph (2A) (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/154) — four national recruitment stages became a legal requirement from 17 March 2026 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/653), regulations 15 and 24 and Schedule 3 — automatic disqualification, Schedule 3A listed offences, vetting clearance for candidates from 13 July 2026 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, Schedule 3A (listed offences) — the offences that automatically disqualify a candidate (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 002/2024: police entry routes, and Annex BA (amendments): policing qualifications and experience — the list of qualifications and experience forces can accept, route by route, from 1 April 2024 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Police constable pre-employment guidance (April 2024) — age, reapplying, references, residency, nationality, tattoos, driving and swimming, criminal history (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Police constable recruitment regulations change (17 March 2026) — the standardised four-stage process all forces must now use (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Police constable entry routes (updated 5 November 2024) — PCDA, DHEP, pre-join degree and PCEP: length, entry requirements and probation (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Becoming a police constable, a guide to joining the police service (April 2026, PDF) — entry routes and requirements; option for forces to accredit PCEP at level 5 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Joining the Police (national recruitment site): Am I eligible to apply? — national eligibility criteria as presented to applicants; local force criteria may be added (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Joining the Police: What's involved in the vetting process? — mandatory rejections, likely declines (CCJs, bankruptcy, residency), declare everything (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Joining the Police: Common questions — local criteria, probation lengths, overseas applicants, driving licence (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 007/2019: eyesight standards, police recruitment (determination under regulation 10) — visual acuity, visual field and colour vision standards from 16 September 2019 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 59/2004: National recruitment standards, medical standards for police recruitment — no automatic exclusion for a condition; individual assessment; indicative standards (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Job-related fitness standards — 15m multi-stage fitness test to level 5.4 is required for recruitment (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Department for Education: English and maths requirements in apprenticeships (updated 19 February 2026) — level 2 English and maths required for apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start; optional for 19+ if the employer agrees (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Public Service Pensions Act 2013, section 10 (legislation.gov.uk) — normal pension age of 60 for members of a police force (accessed 1 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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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.