Police Recruitment Standards
In conjunction with our stakeholders we develop the national recruitment standards for police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs).
These standards are reviewed by the Police Advisory Board Sub-Committee and include:
- Eligibility criteria - this includes information about age, criminal convictions, financial checks, tattoos and swimming
- National application form - we have ownership of these and arrange bulk printing and storage
- Assessment process - national application form and attendance at the national recruit assessment centre known as SEARCH (designed, implemented and quality assured by the Examinations and Assessment Unit)
- Pass mark - new minimum pass marks were introduced in November (NPIA Circular 08/1 available for download in the box on the right)
- Medical standards - take account of the implementation of the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act to police officers on 1 October 2004
- Eyesight requirements - as detailed in Home Office Circular 25/2003
- Fitness test - monitored by the ACPO Working Group on Fitness Standards
Relevant and past Home Office Circulars can be found in the Web Links box on the right.
If you would like more information on the policies behind the processes involved in recruitment, assessment and selection in the police service, please visit the NPIA Recruitment, Assessment and Selection website.
If you are considering applying to become a police officer, please visit the dedicated police recruitment website, Police - Could You?, or contact your local police force.
