Recruitment process

Application form

You are required to complete an online application form. The application form consists of personal information, competency based questions as well as questions regarding your motivation for applying to be a Police Constable with the City of London Police.

We will check you are eligible to apply as per the eligibility criteria mentioned above. If the application is successful you will be invited to attend a College of Policing Assessment Centre.

Please note that if your application is successful you will then be required to apply for entry to Coventry University. Your application will be assessed on the entry criteria.

A diverse workforce improves the service we provide to our public by making us more approachable and relevant within our communities. This is why it’s vitally important that we recruit people from a wide range of communities and backgrounds with an understanding of cultural issues and a wide range of skills. We therefore particularly encourage females and people from Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic communities to join us.

Reasonable adjustments

It is important that you consider if you would like to request arrangements that will assist you in completing the selection process. For example, in relation to disability, dyslexia, learning difficulties, pregnancy, injury etc. Any requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and arranged where possible. This information will be treated with the utmost confidence. If you require any support or further information please email HR Services at the earliest opportunity.

SEARCH/Day 1 assessment centre

The SEARCH assessment Centre will take place at the College of Policing assessment centre, and will be facilitated by nationally trained College of Policing assessors. There is a detailed information pack attached with this application providing details of the assessment. This will contain the information you need to prepare yourself for the assessment centre process. Any further information that may be required will be sent to you ahead of the assessment centre.

Candidates who require reasonable adjustments may be required to complete their assessment centre at the College of Policing site in Ryton. Any requests for reasonable adjustments at interview stage will be considered and arranged where possible. Further information can be found on the College of Policing website.

The whole process will be assessed against the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which defines relevant competencies and values. Questions will be based on the competencies of the CVF and candidates will be required to demonstrate their values across the interview, providing rationale and evidence (Level 1) to demonstrate their suitability for the role of Police Constable with the City of London Police. Further information about the framework can be found on the College of Policing website.

The assessors will also be looking for candidates awareness of the standards required of a Police Officer. These are laid out nationally in the Code of Ethics and can be accessed via the College of Policing website.

Candidates who are successful at the assessment centre will receive a conditional offer and will be progressed through the recruitment process.

The pre-employment checks listed immediately below will be delivered as part of the assessment centre, after the formal process outlined in the attached document:

Fitness test

Candidates have two attempts to complete the fitness test. If candidates fail to complete the fitness test first time, they will be invited back to re-take the fitness test three weeks after their initial attempt. Failure to complete it on the second attempt will result in your application being withdrawn.

Drug screening test biometrics

• DNA
• Fingerprints

The remaining pre-employment checks (‘Medical’ onwards) will be conducted after the assessment centre.  Full information will be provided as appropriate.

Medical

• Signed GP statement (fees payable by applicant)
• Opticians (fees payable by applicant)
• Occupational Health (medical appointment)

Final vetting/security checks

References

If you require further information on the medical standards including eye sight standards, please visit the College of Policing website.

Any non-attendance or delay in attending appointments may result in you not meeting a specific intake date and your application to join the City of London Police may be place on hold or withdrawn.

Offer of Employment

Once all satisfactory pre-employment checks have been completed, you will be sent a formal offer of employment. Candidates are advised not to hand in their notice until they have received their final offer of employment. Intakes will be determined by the readiness of the candidate. Those who successfully complete their pre-employment checks will be progressed; any delay in this stage of the process will result in candidates being progressed to the next available intake.

The City of London Police reserves the right to retract an offer at any stage of the selection process.