Eligibility criteria
Status
Before submitting your application form, you need to check that you are eligible to apply. Please note that there are other factors which may prevent you from joining the City of London Police Reserve. All appointments are at the Commissioner’s discretion. Please look at the following questions. If your answer to any of the questions in this section is ‘Yes’, then ordinarily you will be unable to join as a Volunteer Police Officer or Policing Volunteer.
- Are you younger than 18 years old? (Please note there is no upper age limit).
- Are there any restrictions on your right to stay or work in the UK? (You must be a British citizen; a citizen of the EEA, EU or Switzerland; or if a national of any other country, you must have no restrictions on your stay or right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply.)
- Have you been absent from the UK for a total of three months in the past 3 years? (Applicants must have resided continuously in the UK for the last 3 years, any absence being no more than 3 months during this time. This requirement applies to all applicants including British citizens. Applicants who have resided abroad due to serving in the UK armed services or UK Government Service are considered to have been resident in the UK.)
- Do you ordinarily reside no further than 70 miles from the City in the following counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex?
- Are you or have you ever been a member of British National Party, Combat 18, National Action, National Front or other similar organisation or any proscribed organisation?
- Have you served any period of imprisonment or youth detention? You will not be able to apply if you have served any period of imprisonment or youth detention.
- Do you have any body art that could cause offence? For example, they: undermine the dignity and authority of the office of constable; could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues; be considered garish, lewd or provocative; be numerous or particularly prominent on the hands, forearms, neck or face.
- Do you have outstanding County Court Judgements, have been registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, have default accounts, or are subject to an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, Debt Referral Order, Debt Management Programme, or a Voluntary Agreement registered with the County Court. (We will need to make financial checks to verify your financial status.)
- Are you reported on the Police Barred or Advisory Lists?
- Have you applied to join the City of London Police Reserve within the last 6 months and been unsuccessful?
- If applying to join as a Volunteer Police officer, is there any reason why you cannot perform a minimum of 50 hours each quarter or pass the fitness test?
Education
You do not need any formal qualifications to apply to join the City of London Police Reserve but you must be able to speak, read and write English competently. Volunteer Police Officers and some Policing Volunteer roles will need to pass the Police Initial Recruitment Test.
Employment and business interests
Before submitting your application form, you need to check that you are eligible to apply. Please note that there are other factors which may prevent you from joining the City of London Special Constabulary. All appointments are at the Commissioner’s discretion. Further information is available in the candidate information pack.
Health
In order to become a Volunteer Police Officer and some Policing Volunteer roles with designated police powers, you must be in good health, of sound constitution and able both physically and mentally to perform your duties once appointed. Candidates to whom we intend to make a conditional offer will be asked prior to appointment to fill in a medical questionnaire and undertake a medical examination which will also include an eyesight test. Failure to meet the medical and eyesight standards will mean an individual cannot be appointed. If you are currently using illegal drugs you will not be able to apply and you will be tested for such use.
Eyesight requirements
The standard you need to meet either with or without spectacles or contact lenses is:
Distance vision
6/12 or better with either your right or left eye
6/6 with both eyes together
If you wear spectacles or contact lenses you also need to reach
6/36 without your spectacles or lenses.
Near vision
6/9 with both eyes together (aided).
Colour vision
The use of colour-correcting lenses is not acceptable. Severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromacy) are not acceptable. Mild anomalous trichromacy is acceptable. Severe anomalous dichromacy or trichromacy is also acceptable but you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments.
Further details on medical standards are available here.
Further details on eyesight requirements are available here.
Please email [email protected] to request an application form. You can use the same form for applying for a Volunteer Police Officer or Policing Volunteer role. You will also be sent an information pack.