When will the police be recruiting?

Kay_Peel

Here's my tuppence:

Competition for places in ANY force is fierce - and even then, you can wait for anything up to 2 years for a vacancy to arise.

If you are young, free and single and you really, really want the job then I would advise you to apply to the Metropolitan Police. It has a greater turnover of staff in any year, so there is a better chance of getting a job than in small forces like (for instance) Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and North Yorkshire, to name but a few.

After two years training, you can apply to transfer to a Force nearer your home area - but you'll have to wait for a vacancy and that could take another 2 years.

If you are tied to getting a job locally, then consider being a (civilian) Police and Community Officer. It's a very worthwhile and satisfying job and very good experience for the next step to being a police officer.

If you have a job already and are tied to your local area, then volunteer to be a Special Constable. You only have to work a certain number of hours each month and you get expenses paid. Specials are held in high regard - they have the exact same powers as a police officer and have to be well trained and equipped. There's nothing like going for an interview for the police when you've been doing the job itself. It's a strong selling point.

It's a challenging, sometimes boring, sometimes uplifting, tiring, and physically demanding job. The process of recruitment is not for the faint-hearted, but it's the best possible life and career choice for those who stick with it.

Good luck

Grz.26

A Friend of mine has applied in Feb '08, got accepted but is still awaiting for a place, they have apparently said officers are not retiring when they should so there is not a high turn over of staff atm.