Make the change and join us - police officer recruitment opens on Monday

Wiltshire Police is actively looking for people to ‘be the difference they want to see’ in their communities. The Force opens police officer applications on Monday 25 April, the last round of recruitment in Wiltshire as part of the Government’s pledge to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers by March 2023.

Since the start of the national Uplift recruitment drive in autumn 2019, Wiltshire has welcomed 297 student police officers, with a further 140 places available over the next 12 months.  The three-year Uplift programme is funding an additional 163 police officers in Wiltshire, over and above the Force’s normal recruitment to replace leavers and retirees.

Wiltshire has made good strides in improving workforce diversity, encouraging more women and ethnic minority communities - who are underrepresented in policing - to step forward to consider a career in policing, but there is still more to do.

Student officers have the opportunity to earn a fully funded degree while training through the three-year Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, while those who already hold a degree take a two-year Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.  Candidates have to be 17 or over at the time of application and must meet the stringent eligibility criteria.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said:

“We always recruit on merit and suitability for this challenging role but are particularly keen to hear from those who may not have considered a career in policing and come from an underrepresented group.

“Policing is an amazing career, and no two days are the same. Police officers deal with difficult situations every day and have an opportunity to help people and really make a difference to their lives. It’s an incredibly fulfilling role that I whole heartedly recommend, with plenty of opportunity to progress and specialise.

“We’re looking for resilient individuals whose first instinct is to help and support others; the problem solvers and solution-finders, calm under pressure, who ask questions and are curious, but also approachable with a natural ability to communicate with people from all walks of life. We want people with a strong sense of community, who bring a variety of skills and abilities.”

Wiltshire Police is working hard to improve representation, whether that is gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion or community. The Force’s dedicated Positive Action Team helps those from under-represented groups through the application process to compete on equal terms with other candidates. They can be contacted at [email protected].

To find out more about becoming a Wiltshire police officer, including eligibility criteria, entry routes, the realities of working on response, initial training, and to apply, visit the police officer recruitment page on the Wiltshire Police Careers website.