Application Considerations
Identify potential sticking points before you apply.
Your Situation
Considerations Checklist
No major flags identified.
Ensure you still read the official eligibility guidance carefully. This tool only covers five common vetting topics and is not an eligibility decision.
Disclaimer: This tool is for guidance only. Your force makes the final decision on vetting, under the Vetting Code of Practice and College of Policing vetting guidance.
The 5 Big Blockers
Five common areas that come up in vetting and eligibility are Honesty (giving complete answers), Debt (financial vulnerability), Crime (convictions and cautions), Residency (three years' continual UK residency), and Tattoos (policy set by each force).
Criminal Record
The vetting form asks about convictions and cautions, including old ones, so answer in full. Police forces are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, so spent matters are asked about too.
Financial History
Vetting looks at whether financial problems could make you vulnerable to pressure or corruption, and includes a financial check.
Residency Rule
The College of Policing says candidates should have three years' minimum continual UK residency, so vetting can check your history.
Tattoos & Appearance
National guidance: Visible tattoos are unacceptable if they could reasonably be seen as discriminatory or offensive, or show views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics. Detail: Placement rules (face, neck, hands) are set by each force.
Medical Standards
Forces assess health individually and force policies on BMI vary. Eyesight must meet the Regulation 10 standard (with glasses/lenses).
The "Honesty Test"
Honesty is central to vetting: the forms ask specific questions, and leaving something out can count against you even where the underlying matter might not have. If you are unsure whether to mention something, ask your force or include it. Each force makes its own decision.
Sources: College of Policing Vetting APP (May 2025), Vetting Code of Practice. Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10, College of Policing pre-employment guidance (April 2024). Last reviewed 1 October 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join the police with a criminal record?
It depends on the offence, how long ago it was and the circumstances. The vetting form asks about convictions and cautions, and police forces are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, so old and spent matters are asked about too. Since 13 July 2026 some records are an automatic bar under regulation 10(2A) of the Police Regulations 2003: a custodial sentence, sex offender notification, or a conviction or caution for a listed offence or a domestic abuse offence. Other convictions and cautions are assessed by the force at vetting, with a presumption against clearance unless particular circumstances justify it. See our guide on joining with a criminal record.
Does a CCJ stop you joining the police?
College of Policing vetting guidance says an outstanding CCJ makes clearance unlikely. Financial vulnerability is a vetting concern more generally, and IVAs, bankruptcy and unmanaged debt are assessed individually. See our guide on joining the police with debt.
Can I join if I have tattoos on my hands?
Policies are set by each force. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance (April 2024) says visible tattoos are unacceptable if they could reasonably be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive, or indicate attitudes or views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards of professional behaviour. Forces may ask for photographs, so check your force's policy before you apply.
What is the residency requirement?
The national vetting form asks about three years of continual UK residency, and the form lists exceptions such as armed forces or government service. The College's guidance adds that if you have lived abroad for more than three months in the last three years, it is unlikely a force can obtain enough information to grant clearance. Ask your force how it applies this.
Do I need a driving licence to join the police?
Requirements on driving licences vary by force and role. Check the eligibility page of the force you are applying to for what it requires and by when.
Is there an age limit for joining?
You can apply from 17 and must be 18 to be appointed (Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10). There is no upper age limit in the regulations. Whatever your age, you must pass the fitness test and medical.
Can I join without a degree?
Yes, a degree is not required for every entry route. Some routes, such as the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), let you work towards a degree-level qualification while you are employed. Entry requirements are set out for each route by the College of Policing and your force, so check the force's page.
What medical conditions disqualify you?
There is no simple list. Forces assess each candidate individually, and a well-managed pre-existing condition does not necessarily prevent you joining. The national standard is Home Office Circular 59/2004, which says no one should be excluded automatically because of a condition or disability. Ask your force's occupational health team if you have a specific concern.