How to become a Police Officer in the UK
A career inlaw enforcementparticularly being a police officer is immensely rewarding. Police officers maintain peace and order in their respective towns and communities. A police officer is a symbol of peace and order and his presence alone assures the people’s safety.
Nevertheless, working as a police officer requires a vast amount of experience and genuine discipline.
Needless to say, not all people are fit for thepolice force. There are certain unique qualities and special attributes that are needed in order to be accepted as a police officer. Hence, this article provides a step-by-step guide on becoming a police officer particularly in the United Kingdom.
Responsibilities of a police officer in the UK
Being a police officer in the UK is a very daunting task. The United Kingdom is one of the world’s most progressive countries thus, it is often targeted by terrorist groups. It is important for every police officer in UK to be prepared for whatever may happen.
Aside from the usual “movie-inspired action” police officers experience, they are also responsible for paperwork and recordkeeping tasks. Being a police officer in the UK is not just about chasing criminals or exchanging gunfire with terrorists groups. Moreover, police officers also monitor crime rates and similar statistics relating to peace and order.
Applying as a police officer in the UK
There are 51 police forces scattered all over England, Wales and Scotland. Likewise, an estimated35,000 applicantseach year vie for a position in UK’s police force. However, only 5,000 applicants get accepted each year.
There are certainrequirementson being a police officer in the UK and each should be met considerably. In order to be a police officer in the UK, an applicant should aged at least 18 ½ years old but not more than 55 years old (per England and Wales police force requirements only.)
The applicant should be a British, an Irish or a Commonwealth citizen and should be residing permanently in the country. The applicant must also have a driver’s license or if not, he must be in the process of acquiring his license.
More so, having such attributes is not an assurance that the applicant will land the position as a police officer in the UK.
A person applying as a police officer in the UK must also pass necessary exams and tests. These include the Police Initial Recruitment Test (PIRT,) the Police Fitness Test and the Police Medical Test.
