Met Police
Promotion Process
How promotion works in the Metropolitan Police Service, written only from material the Met has published: its officer promotion pages and its Freedom of Information disclosures. Where the Met has not published something, we say so rather than fill the gap.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 18 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
The Met runs promotion processes from sergeant to chief superintendent, open to internal and external officers, against its workforce needs. The gateway is your end of year review: at least 'at the standard' with a potential rating of 'ready for promotion' or above, which replaces an application form. After an expression of interest, assessment usually means a future focused interview plus one additional exercise. Successful candidates go on a select list and are promoted as vacancies arise.
Every fact on this page comes from the Met's own website: its officer promotion pages and its published FOI responses. We have not used accounts from coaches, forums or other forces. Processes change from campaign to campaign; the Met's current campaign information is the authority.
The Met's own overview
The Met says it runs promotion processes "from sergeant through to chief superintendent annually", that all of its processes are open to both internal and external officers, and that "the majority of our promotion processes have a similar approach". Its how to join page adds that it runs promotion processes against its workforce requirements and lists current campaign timescales.
The Met says its processes "assess for future readiness and alignment with our organisational goals", against the leadership criteria for the relevant rank and its principles and values, aligned to "A New Met for London" phase 2.
Step by step
| Stage | What the Met says |
|---|---|
| 1. Gateway | An end of year review (PDR) with a performance rating of at least 'at the standard' and a potential rating of 'ready for promotion' or above. The Met says this is the gateway and replaces an application form |
| 2. Expression of interest | You register for the process when it opens |
| 3. Assessment | Usually a future focused interview, to explore potential for the next rank, plus one additional exercise. Assessed against the leadership criteria for the rank, the Met's principles and values, and aligned to 'A New Met for London' phase 2 |
| 4. Pre-employment checks | Successful candidates complete pre-employment checks |
| 5. Select list | You are placed on a select list and promoted when a role becomes vacant |
| 6. Posting | You give posting preferences, but postings are made on the Met's operational needs |
Because the PDR rating is the gateway, the most important preparation happens in the review year before a process: performing at the standard, and agreeing with your line manager what "ready for promotion" looks like and how you will evidence it.
Where the national framework fits
For sergeant and inspector, the Met still works within the College's National Police Promotion Framework. In FOI 01.FOI.24.039835 (2024), it said its assessment centre is step three of the NPPF for constable to sergeant and sergeant to inspector, designed to measure the key skills and behaviours for the rank based on the Competency and Values Framework and Met values. It also said:
- constable to sergeant assessments are delivered locally, on borough, rather than through the central assessment centre team;
- assessment exercises are set against the demands and expectations of the rank applied for;
- specialist skills or knowledge are considered at posting and are not specifically assessed in the promotion process.
So you still need a valid step two exam pass to enter a sergeant or inspector process, and selection is followed by temporary promotion and the work-based assessment. See promotion boards explained for the national steps.
Published pass marks
In FOI 01.FOI.23.032096 (October 2023) the Met published the success criteria for its assessment centres from 2017, the earliest year it holds data. For constable to sergeant:
| Process | Success criterion |
|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | At least 3.0 in three of the five score areas, and a score of 1 in a single competency area on no more than one occasion |
| 2019 | At least 3.0 in at least 6 of the 10 competency or value areas |
| 2020 | Total score of 30 or above |
| 2021 | Total score of 26 or above |
| 2022 | Total score of 30 or above |
For sergeant to inspector (no process ran in 2022):
| Process | Success criterion |
|---|---|
| 2017 (launched December 2017) | Total of 25 or above and at least 3 in three of the five score areas, with no more than one score of 1 in a single competency area |
| 2018 | At least 3 in at least 7 of the 10 competency or value areas |
| 2019 | At least 3 in at least 4 of the 10 competency or value areas |
| 2020 (launched January 2021) | Total score of 32 or above |
| 2021 | Total score of 25 or above |
| 2023 (launched January 2023) | Total of at least 26, and at least 2 in each competency or value |
Two patterns stand out. The Met moved from per-area minimums to total scores in 2020, and from 2023 combined a total with a minimum in every competency or value. And totals move year to year because the exercises and scales change, so a pass mark from one year is not a target for another. For inspector to chief inspector criteria, see our chief inspector guide.
The 2024 sergeant to inspector process in numbers
FOI 01.FOI.24.039068 covers the sergeant to inspector process launched on 29 January 2024, with results published on 10 July 2024. The assessment had an interview, a meeting or briefing exercise and a written element; the Met said the briefing and written exercises were scored as one. Average scores:
| Site | Candidates | Average total | Interview | Meeting | Written |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendon | 69 | 41.4 | 15.3 | 18.1 | 7.9 |
| Kennington | 157 | 40.6 | 14.7 | 18.0 | 7.9 |
| Both sites | 2 | 37.5 | 9.5 | 19.5 | 8.5 |
| All candidates | 228 | 40.8 | 14.9 | 18.0 | 7.9 |
The Met withheld the marking criteria because assessments were still live for some candidates. It did not publish a pass mark or the number of successful candidates in that response.
Senior ranks: the 2023 chief inspector to superintendent process
FOI 01.FOI.23.031938 gives a rare view of a senior process from application to outcome:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications | 168 internal, 33 external |
| Invited to assessment centre | 94 internal, 13 external |
| Attended | 88 internal, 12 external |
| Exercises (as described in the request) | Interview, briefing exercise and role play |
| Success options put to the Assessment Director | From 40 to 42 out of 75, with or without a minimum of 2 in each competency or value |
| Successful | 39 internal, 6 external (45 in total) |
The final figure of 45 successful candidates matches the option of 41 out of 75 with a minimum of 2 in each competency or value, but the response does not say in words which option was chosen.
Reasonable adjustments
The Met's 2024 FOI response says candidates can request a reasonable adjustment for the assessment phase when they apply, give the reason, attach supporting evidence and mention adjustments agreed in the past. Requests are reviewed by its medical team or occupational psychologists, who agree a suitable adjustment with the candidate case by case. For constable to sergeant, adjustments are passed to local single points of contact because those assessments run on borough.
Preparing for a Met process
- The PDR year. Agree with your line manager what evidence will support a "ready for promotion" rating.
- The future focused interview. Practise answering "how would you" questions at the next rank with a plan, reasons, measures and a real example. See forward-facing questions.
- The additional exercise. Recent inspector processes included briefing and written work; practise reading a pack quickly and giving a clear recommendation. Our presentation guide helps with briefings.
- Every competency counts. Recent criteria required a minimum in each competency or value, so do not leave one uncovered.
What the Met has not published
- Interview questions and marking criteria. Withheld in the 2024 FOI response.
- Current timetables for sergeant and inspector processes. The how to join page did not list them when we checked.
- Success criteria after 2023, and pass rates. We found no Met publication of these. We have left them out.
- Detail of "A New Met for London" leadership criteria for each rank. Not set out on the promotion pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Met still use application forms for promotion?
Its current officer promotion page says the PDR rating (at least 'at the standard', with 'ready for promotion' or above) is the gateway and replaces an application form. A 2024 FOI response described a supported application moderated against a minimum standard, so the approach has changed over time. Check the current campaign information.
What is the Met's future focused interview?
The Met says assessment will usually include a future focused interview to explore potential for the next rank, plus one additional exercise. It has not published the questions or marking criteria. Our forward-facing questions guide covers how to answer this type of question.
What is the pass mark for Met sergeant promotion?
It changes each year. Under FOI the Met published a total score of 30 or above for its 2022 constable to sergeant process and 26 or above for 2021. Earlier years used minimum scores per area instead of totals.
What is the pass mark for Met inspector promotion?
For the sergeant to inspector process launched in January 2023, the Met published a total of at least 26 and a minimum of 2 in each competency or value. Its 2024 process had 228 candidates with an average total of 40.8, on a different scale, so totals are not comparable between years.
Does the Met use the NPPF?
Yes, for sergeant and inspector. In a 2024 FOI response the Met said its assessment centre is step three of the NPPF for constable to sergeant and sergeant to inspector, based on the CVF and Met values. Constable to sergeant assessments are delivered locally on borough.
Are specialist skills tested in Met promotion?
The Met told an FOI requester that promotion assessments are designed to assess competency at the rank, and that specialist skills or knowledge are considered at posting rather than assessed in the promotion process.
When is the next Met promotion process?
The Met's how to join page lists current campaign timescales; when we checked it showed only superintendent to chief superintendent, June to September 2025, and said other campaigns for 2025/2026 would be added. You can register interest for processes that are not live.
Can officers from other forces apply for Met promotion?
The Met says all of its promotion processes are open to both internal and external officers.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 18 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.
- Metropolitan Police: Officer promotion overview : ranks covered, internal and external, gateway, expression of interest, assessment, select list, postings (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police: Officer promotion, how to join : current campaign timescales and register of interest (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police FOI 01.FOI.23.032096: pass marks for each promotion process by rank : success criteria 2017 to 2023 by rank (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police FOI 01.FOI.24.039068: sergeant to inspector process launched 29 January 2024 : candidate numbers and average scores by element and site; marking criteria withheld (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police FOI 01.FOI.24.039835: police officer promotion process : NPPF step three, CVF and Met values, borough delivery for constable to sergeant, reasonable adjustments, specialist skills (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police FOI 01.FOI.23.031938: 2023 chief inspector to superintendent promotion process : applications, attendance, success options and outcomes (accessed 18 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Practice and tools
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by the College of Policing or any police force. Promotion processes are set locally and change from year to year, so your force's own candidate information is the source to rely on. Practice questions and example answers on this site are original PolicePay material, not real or recalled board questions, and no answer structure guarantees a result. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 18 October 2026.