Metropolitan Police Careers

Who we're looking for

It is important that our police officers are in a position to provide the best possible service to the people of London. As such we are looking for people who are both eligible for the job and capable of doing it effectively, as defined by the following criteria.

Age

We will consider your application if you are aged between 18 and 57 at the time of applying.

Note that, if successful, you will be unable to attend Training School until you reach 18 1/2.

Nationality

You can be of any nationality to apply, provided you have permanent right to remain without restriction in the UK if you are from a non-EEA country.

Residency

Whilst the Home Office makes no mention of a residency requirement, it should be noted that ACPO have issued guidelines in respect of residency. These guidelines clearly state that for force vetting, a candidate should have been resident in the United Kingdom for the THREE YEARS prior to submitting an application.

If a candidate has not resided in the United Kingdom for the three years prior to submitting an application, the application cannot be accepted.

Personal qualities

There are seven core competencies that you must have if you are to be a successful police officer. These qualities are assessed throughout the selection process.

• Respect for diversity
• Teamworking
• Community and customer focus
• Effective communication
• Problem solving
• Personal responsibility
• Resilience.

Character

Police officer is a position of responsibility and trust, given only to law-abiding people with proven character and integrity. As such, while consideration will be given to the circumstances, any previous criminal convictions could cast doubt on your suitability for the role.

Substance misuse

Similarly, the use of illegal substances contradicts everything that the role of police officer stands for. We will not employ anyone demonstrated to be misusing such substances.

Qualifications

There are no formal educational requirements to become a police officer. However, you will need to have a reasonable standard of English and numeracy if you are to succeed during the selection process.

Health & fitness

While you don't need to be an Olympic athlete to be a police officer, you must be able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job. This applies as much to the foreseeable future as the immediate present. Certain medical conditions may prevent this. To find out more, please use the answering your questions link or contact our medical team on 020 8358 0460.

Business & financial status

To avoid the risk of corruption, as a police officer you must not be under pressure from undischarged debts or liabilities, or have any business connections that may constitute a conflict of interest.

Tattoos and body piercings

Your appearance should demonstrate that you are aware of the impression you make on other people, avoiding favouritism and offence at all times. While each case is judged on its merits, you should be aware that some tattoos (whether visible or not) and facial piercings might be in breach of this requirement and therefore, unacceptable.