Application criteria

Age

Applicants can apply when they are 18, but cannot begin employment until the age of 18½. There are other ways you can become a part of the organisation and gain invaluable knowledge to help you get ready to become a CSO. 

You could apply for other police staff roles or join our register of temporary staff, working in the administration sections of headquarters departments or area commands.

Alternatively, you could look for a job offering direct contact with the public or volunteer for community work with, for example, youth groups or those involving disabled or elderly people.

Nationality

To be eligible for appointment you must be a British citizen, a member of the EC or other states in the EEA (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein). Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals are also eligible but only if they are resident in the UK free of restrictions.

Tattoos

Tattoos are not a bar to appointment. However, some tattoos could potentially offend members of the public/colleagues or bring discredit to the police service. It depends on their size, nature, location and sometimes extent. Tattoos are not acceptable if they:

  • Undermine the dignity and authority of the office of constable

  • Could cause offence to members of the public/colleagues and/or invite provocation

  • Are garish, numerous or particularly prominent

  • Indicate unacceptable attitudes towards women, minority groups or other sections of the community 

  • Indicate alignment with a particular group which could offend the public or colleagues

  • Are considered rude, lewd, crude, racist, sexist, sectarian, homophobic, violent or intimidating

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