Who we're looking for
This information is for all police officers and special constables (volunteer police officers). It explains the qualities and standards expected in these roles. Before you apply, please check that you meet the eligibility criteria listed below.
If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain.
If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.
- You must be 17 years old or older at the point of application. If you are 17, you can go through the recruitment and selection process, but will not receive an offer of employment until you have turned 18.
- You must hold a full UK category B manual driving licence. National College of Policing standards allows you to apply to become a Police Constable once you turn 17 however, you will be unable to commence with Essex Police until you turn 18 and have obtained a Full UK Manual category B driving licence. (Not required if applying to become a Special Constable).
- There is no height restriction.
- If you have been unsuccessful in an application for the same role with any home office force within in the last three months, you are not eligible to apply.
- If you have previously been rejected, as an applicant, for severe inappropriate behaviour or language you are not eligible to apply for a period of at least two years.
We are currently offering four entry routes into policing. Depending on which entry route you choose, the academic requirements differ. Visit entry routes to find out more.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll receive the best possible training and support.
We have agreed intake sizes for each of our police officer entry routes. If oversubscribed, it may be necessary for us to make changes to your entry route to secure your optimum joining date. If this is the case, we will contact you.
We are currently accepting transfer of successful SEARCH, National online assessment or day one results if obtained within the last 24 months.
If you meet this criteria, please attach your detailed results to your application (you can request these from the force you originally passed with) and declare this on your application form. If acceptable, we will transfer these results and you will not be required to undertake our online assessment stage.
Please note: This option is not applicable if your original application was unsuccessful within the past six months (not including voluntary withdrawal).
Policing is not easy. Not only do you need determination and drive but you also need to be as healthy as possible and have a good level of fitness.
Medical
Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job.
To find out more please view our health and fitness FAQs as well as the the HM Government medical standards information which provides full details on which illnesses, injuries and disorders will affect your ability to perform the role of a police officer.
Fitness
You will be required to run a 15 metre track in time with bleeps which get increasingly faster. You need to meet level 5.4 on the bleep test to be successful.
If you fail on your first attempt don't worry. You're allowed two more attempts within 12 weeks (second attempt after six weeks, third attempt six weeks later). If after the third attempt you are not successful, we will be unable to continue with your application.
Find out more on the College of Policing website.
Tattoos
If you have a tattoo, you'll be asked to provide a brief and accurate description and two digital colour photos of each tattoo:
- a distance photograph to clearly identify where on your body the tattoo is.
- a close photograph which clearly identifies the images in the tattoo.
Each photograph should not be more than 1MB in size. Please email them to the Business Services - recruitment team.
Tattoos will be divided into three categories:
- Tattoos that will never be visible (i.e., back, chest, legs, upper arms). These tattoos are acceptable unless they are offensive to any religion or belief, or could be perceived as being discriminatory, violent, or intimidating.
- Tattoos that would be visible whilst wearing a short sleeve shirt. These tattoos will be visible, and applications will be rejected if the tattoos are considered offensive to any religion or belief, or could be perceived as being discriminatory, violent, or intimidating. Additionally, we reject tattoos which are sinister in nature or have the potential to scare will be rejected (examples of this would include skulls, mummified faces, weapons, animals baring teeth).
- Tattoos anywhere on the neck, head, or hands. A decision will be made taking into consideration exact location, size, and nature.
All applications will be assessed on an individual basis and tattoos meeting any of the above criteria will prevent you from being able to join us.
Body piercings
If you have a body piercing or other body modification you may be considered eligible to apply.
We'll check it to make sure it doesn't breach the Standard of Professional Behaviour for serving police officers or constitute a risk to health and safety.
Ideally, you shouldn't have a criminal conviction or cautions record. If you do have one, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.
We're unable to confirm whether your convictions record will affect your application before you apply but will determine this from information provided during the recruitment and selection process.
If you don't tell us about any cautions, investigations or criminal convictions that may be linked to you at an early stage, your application could be refused simply because you weren't open and up front, whereas it might have been accepted if you were.
If in any doubt, disclose the information.
For more information please view the vetting guidance.
It's important that you're not under pressure from un-discharged debts or liabilities and that you can manage loans and debts sensibly.
You will not qualify for vetting clearance if you:
- have existing county court judgments (CCJs) outstanding
- have been registered bankrupt and have not discharged your bankruptcy. Applicants will not be considered until three years after the discharge of the debt. Debt Relief Orders (DRO) are treated in the same way as bankruptcy
- if you refuse to discuss a relevant matter or engage with the vetting process
For more information please view the vetting guidance.
You may be required to undertake a substance misuse test.
If you are using illegal drugs you will be ruled out of the recruitment process automatically.
When assessing an applicant’s suitability, Essex Police must take into account their employment role (where applicable). Some occupations are considered incompatible with being a special constable. This may be due to nature of a role, working in a particular industry or sector, role responsibilities and regulatory powers attached. Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Members of the regular armed forces.
- Police community support officers.
- Police and crime commissioners.
- Members of parliament.
- Members of employers’ police forces and private constabularies.
- Magistrates, judges, justices’ clerks and all Crown Prosecution Service employees.
- Highways Agency traffic officers, employed in an ‘on-road’ capacity.
- Border Force officers or HM Revenue and Customs officer powers.
- Neighbourhood and street wardens and other uniformed patrol wardens.
- Traffic wardens, civil enforcement officers and school crossing patrols.
More information for police officers
More information for Special Constables
