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We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, ages, gender and sexual orientation.
View further information about diversity and inclusion at Essex Police.
There are some eligibility conditions that all applicants need to meet, so please check that you meet our requirements before submitting an application.
To meet the minimum personal eligibility criteria, all of the 5 statements below must apply to you.
We want to ensure our new officers are prepared for the demands and challenges of modern day policing and have moved to a new educational route into policing - Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF).
As a new officer you will now gain a degree apprenticeship or graduate diploma whilst you complete your probation period with us.
There are two routes to join us depending on your qualifications, further information can be found in entry routes.
If you are interested in a career with us, 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.
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.
In relation to your fitness if you undertake some form of regular exercise, there should be no issue with meeting the physical requirements in the fitness test. This means achieving level 5.4 on the 'bleep test'.
Find out more on the College of Policing website.
If you have a body piercing or other body modification you still 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:
For more information please view the vetting guidance.
You will be required to undertake a substance misuse test as a part of the pre-employment checks in the recruitment process.
If you are using illegal drugs you will be ruled out of the recruitment process automatically.