Metropolitan Police Careers

Who we're looking for

Your suitability for the MPS's professional and support staff depends largely on the particular role you are interested in. However it is possible to give you some general guidance as to what is required, as well as some basic eligibility criteria that you must meet.

Qualifications

All police staff posts within the MPS are subject to a role profile under the National Competency Framework. In light of this, all posts advertised externally should list the competencies/skills required to undertake the role. Applicants must show in their application how they meet the required competencies/skills.

In view of this, qualifications are no longer a requirement for each post unless there is a specific requirement for a qualification attached to the post, for example an applicant for a Fingerprint Examiner would need to be a fingerprint expert and a member of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners.

Skills & personal qualities

Depending on the particular role you are interested in, you will also need some or all of the following attributes:

• Strategic perspective
• Openness to change
• Negotiation and influencing
• The ability to maximise potential
• Respect for race and diversity
• Teamworking
• Community and customer focus
• Effective communication
• Problem solving
• Planning and organising
• Personal responsibility
• Resilience

Experience

The amount of relevant work experience you need depends on the role you're interested in. As a general rule, the more senior the position, the more experience you should have. Significant previous experience may also be acceptable in lieu of any educational requirements.

Age

To join the MPS's professional and support staff you need to be aged between 16 and 63.5 (62.5 for PCSOs). However, posts that require shift work are only available to you if you're over 18.

Nationality

You can be of any nationality to apply. If you are not a British citizen or member of the EEA, you must have a visa entitlement to live and work in the UK for a period of time sufficient to recoup recruitment and training costs for the role. The timescales are as follows:

Administrative roles - Candidates must have 1.5 years left to run on their visa at the point of application.

Police staff in Communication Officer and other specialist roles requiring extensive training (including Dedicated Detention Officers) - Candidates must have 2.5 years left to run on their visa at the point of application.

Character

All employees of the MPS, whether they wear a uniform or not, are in a position of responsibility and trust. As such they should be law-abiding people with proven integrity. If you have previously been convicted of a criminal offence your suitability will be subject to careful consideration.