Eligibility

Age requirements

Applications can be accepted at the age of 17, providing you will be 18 by the time you are expected to start and have achieved the required qualifications. There is no upper age limit for applying to the police service. However, a police officer is demanding physically and mentally and you will need to be reasonably fit and in good health. We welcome all ages - a diverse workforce reflecting the communities we serve is the best way to be effective. No matter your age, you bring important skills and perspectives that are key tools for being a police officer.

Nationality requirements

You must be a British citizen, an EC/EEA national or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. 

You will need a minimum of three years continuous residential history in the UK for you to meet vetting requirements.

Foreign nationals and UK citizens who may have lived abroad for a period within the last five years may have their vetting clearance delayed, due to additional security checks.

If you hold any overseas citizenship status please check that your application to Wiltshire Police will not affect any of your citizenship rights outside of the UK. Please email [email protected] should you have any questions regarding this. 

Criminal record

A number of crimes will mean a definite or likely rejection of your application, including anyone who has received a formal caution in the last five years, committed a violent crime or public order offence. If you are at all unsure, get in contact and ask.

Tattoos

Tattoos are very common; all tattoos that are reviewed to check appropriateness. Images that are grotesque, violent, have a strong religious or political connection or would undermine the dignity and authority of your role would not be acceptable.

Financial status

Applicants will have their financial status checked.  These checks are carried out because police officers have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption.  Applicants with who have had County Court judgements or may be on a Debt recovery plan will be assessed on a case by case basis. If you have any concerns please ask before applying for more information.

Health

Police officers encounter stressful situations, trauma, physical confrontation and work long hours on shifts. They need to be resilient enough to cope with the demands and pressures of police work. Applicants must therefore be in good health mentally and physically to undertake police duties.  You will undergo a medical examination to ensure you meet the health standards required.

Eyesight

Applicants will have their eyesight tested at the medical assessment stage. You may be asked to go to an optician to have your eyes tested and the eyesight form filled in. Failure to pass this test will lead to rejection.

Previous applications

You can apply to more than one force at a time if you wish, but it is important that candidates do not attend more than one assessment centre at any one time. 

If you have previously applied to join the police service and been unsuccessful at the Online Assessment Centre, near miss candidates can reapply after three months from your initial rejection.

If you have already been to a Online Assessment Centre and have received a successful result, this will be valid for 24 months from the date you attended.

Physical fitness

To ensure you are fit enough for the role, you will undertake a fitness test.   We are looking for no more than the minimum standard needed to enable you to work effectively as a police officer. You will be given help to improve your fitness and if you prepare yourself properly, there is no reason for you to fail.  

You will need to complete officer safety training (OST) every year.  This involves completing and passing handcuffing techniques, the fitness test and personal unarmed and armed combat.  It is your responsibility to keep yourself fit throughout the 12 months.

Please watch this short video which takes you through the full fitness test