What to do to become a police officer?

Question

Do you need qualification etc?
and how long does it take to become one, also what is the basic pay for a new office

Answer 1

none. just need to be fit and healthy

Answer 2

No qualifications needed, but life experience essential fo ryour application form.
Basic pay differes depending on where you work, I work in London so I get a London allowance.
The actual selection doesn't take too long, but its the waiting for an available position.
You do an application form first, take time on this and seek advice from your local constabulary, many have recruitment departments which will give you some pointers on filling it in.
50% of applicants are weeded out in the paper application process.
If you're successful at that, then you attend a "Day 1" which is for written, maths and role play tests, again, there is a book available which can help you through this, and constabularies run help days where they will give you pointers for the role plays.
If you make it through this, then you get to do the "Day 2" JRFT (job related fitness test) which is pretty easy, and you also get hearing, drug and lung capacity tests done.

After that you will get told if you've been accepted and you just have to wait for a place on the next available training intake.
Only problem is, not many constabularies are recruiting at the moment, have a look on the "policecouldyou" website.

Answer 3

Having Qualification's helps especially when it comes to being graded or to further your career on the police ladder. All Police Officers must learn the basic law of the roads, the civil law and must have an objective mind...very important. One of my school-friends has been in the force now since 1977 and is a Superintendant with the Metropolitan Police Division. He had O'levels and A'levels, he past his SAT's with flying colours. Police Officers pay starts around £22,000 a year and goes up every year and you are also assisted with housing and a special London Waiting Allowance if you are allocated in the London area.

Answer 4

If you are serious than look at www.policecouldyou.co.uk/

It can take over a year and it is best to have some life experience before joining (ie being over 25)

Police officers receive very competitive pay and benefits packages. Rates of pay vary by force, generally starting at an annual rate of around £20,000, and rising with each year of experience. Officers in some forces receive additional allowances to complement their salary.

As per that comment by EVO and Karen next time you are burgled assaulted, stabbed, shot, raped, things stolen from you or have an argument than don't call the police and they'll see you in court or in the cemetery. Remember the police run towards danger when others run away.

Answer 5

No formal qualifications are needed but it would help in the process. You will have basic tests on literacy and numeracy when you get there as part of a load of tests you must complete.

The most important thing is that your health and criminal record is good. You can get load of information on the metropolitan police web and www.policecouldyou.com. Then if you pass the tests you can go to Hendon and start training.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

No you don't need qualifications. They are not as strict as they used to be there is no height restriction now like there used to be and the age is more flexible too. go to your local police website and click on recruitment it with give you all the information you need to know about becoming a police officer. Starting pay for Hertfordshire is approx £19,000.

Answer 7

As a lot of people have already said, check the website of the force you wish to join. Good luck to you.

It saddens me to read some of the answers on here. I wonder who they'll phone when their house is burgled, their brother is murdered, their sister is raped or they are the victim of a street robbery. The police are doing a fantastic job with limited money and resources. It's a shame that people aren't made aware of how many acts of terrorism have been thwarted. There could have been hundreds of 9/11s or 7/7s if it weren't for our brave boys and girls.

Have a think before you write.

Answer 8

I agree with the people that have given positive answers to your question, and havent used it as an opportunity to have a pop at police officers. They generalize and clearly think they know all about Police work etc, when they only know what they see on TV. We all know who they'll continue to call when they're victims of crime.

Be prepared to be patient when you apply for it, but go for it!!!

Answer 9

Firstly have your brain removed, then believe you are above the law. Be corrupt, arrogant, have no conscious.Open a swiss bank account for bribes & backhanders. You never see a poor police officer. Be prepared to harass & arrest joe publice & let all the bad guys walk the streets. Finally you have to be able to carry weapons, the public cannot carry a weapon for protection but they can openly carry offensive weapons, use as you like to kill people then gloat over it with you fellow officers. You must know the masonic hand shake.
It does not matter what pay you get, you earn more than enough in bribes & back handers.

Answer 10

Homer Jay and Paul D have given you the best answers. However, there aren't many forces that I know of currently recruiting as there are believed to be a few thousand applications in the pipeline to be processed. Best, though, to keep an eye on the website of the force you want to join.

Answer 11

just your gcses, but in this country there is no way i would be a cop unless they gave me a gun. to many police are dying and getting stab and shot but when they shot someone they get in trouble. what is going on with this world the crims are allowed to do what they want and do get the right punnishment to fit the crime. i think the govement need to act before we end up a mess up crimanal country. like the usa and Oz were everyone can walk in to schools and kill kids even if they did nothing wrong.