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The Assessment Process

All serving constables and sergeants are eligible to apply for the scheme. Members of the original HPDS need not apply. 

2010 HPDS Engagement Events

To reserve your place, please contact us

 Date Location
3 March 2010 NPIA Ryton, Leamington Road, Ryton-On-Dunsmore, Coventry
4 March 2010 Greater Manchester Police, Sedgley Park, Sedgley Park Road, Prestwich, Manchester
11 March 2010 Gloucestershire Police, County Police HQ, No. 1 Waterwells, Waterwells Drive, Quedgeley, Gloucester
16 March 2010 NPIA Bramshill, Hook, Hampshire
23 March 2010 Metropolitan Police Service, Empress State Building, London
24 March 2010 West Yorkshire Police, Training & Development Centre, Bishopgarth, Westfield Road, Wakefield
25 March 2010 NPIA Harperley Hall, Fir tree, Crook, Co. Durham 

Key Dates for the 2010 Assessment Process

Application Launch Date 29 March 2010
Application Closing Date 25 June 2010
Intention to Apply for Reasonable Adjustment Closing Date 25 June 2010
Stage 2 Window 19 July - 6 August 2010 at 3 locations
Stage 3 Window 17 November - 5 December 2010

2010 Selection Process

Details of the planned selection process for 2010 are set out below, this is subject to final confirmation.  In 2010, we aim to select approximately 60 officers to join the HPDS. 

Stage 1 - Application

As in previous years, the application form is designed to help assess your readiness for HPDS, and assist your force in making the decision to support your application. To be successful at this stage you must be nominated by your force.

Your force may carry out an internal selection process to choose which applications to support, their deadlines may be earlier than those for the national process. 

If successful at this stage, you will be invited to attend Stage 2.

Stage 2 - Situational Judgement Questionnaire and Written Exercise

Stage 2 will comprise a Situational Judgement Questionnaire (SJQ) that will test decision making and judgement in a range of management scenarios, and a written exercise. Stage Two scores will contribute to your final result. 

Successful candidates will be invited to attend Stage Three. 

Stage 3 - Assessment Centre

The final stage will comprise an assessment centre, where candidates will be assessed against key competencies in a series of exercises.  The scores of Stages 2 and 3 will be combined to determine the final result. 

Should you have any questions please refer to your regional HPDS Development Advisor or the Leadership Services Team.

Next Steps

  • Consider whether you wish to apply for HPDS
  • If you do, download the relevant documents from this page for further information
  • We recommend that you contact your line manager and discuss your decision making process with them at the earliest opportunity

Reasonable Adjustment

Please consult our Reasonable Adjustment Policy which outlines to candidates the process by which candidates with a disability may apply for reasonable adjustment for the HPDS Selection Process. This includes candidates with a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD).

Should candidates have any queries about reasonable adjustment they should phone Christine Hart on 01423 876759 to discuss their circumstances with a psychologist.

Force Managers

Guidance for the 2010 process will be published on this site shortly.  In the meantime, the 2009 Guidance for force managers document provides useful information on the role of force managers in the process.