Police Staff

Our recruitment process

Police Staff

Our recruitment process

The recruitment process

We understand the recruitment process can feel a little overwhelming at times, but don’t worry – we’ll be with you every step of the way. Throughout the process, we’ll keep you updated via email, and you can always check your progress on the recruitment portal. Please, remember to check your junk mail/filter settings in case our emails have ended up there.

Our Recruitment Team

We’re committed to making your recruitment experience as smooth as possible. We’re always here if you need help or have any questions. We aim to bring out the best in you and appreciate any feedback on how we can improve our process. If you want to appeal an unsuccessful application, check our appeals policy for more info.

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What To Expect

All applicants must be a UK Citizen, EU Citizen with Settled or Pre-Settled status, Commonwealth Citizen, or Foreign National with no restrictions on stay in the UK. You’ll need to have lived in the UK for at least three years before applying, regardless of where you were born.

All employees will need vetting clearance as part of pre-employment checks. You'll need to declare any spent or unspent convictions, as well as details of your financial situation and information about your immediate family or any adults you live with. This includes fines such as speeding or bus lane fines. Be honest – it’s important!

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Step 1: Shortlisting

Check out this short film for a rundown of our shortlisting process.

Step 2: Interview and Assessment

If you're invited for an interview, you'll get detailed guidance via email and on our recruitment portal. If we need you to do a presentation, we’ll send you the briefing too. You’ll then need to book your interview slot via the portal, where you’ll also find the location and details of the interview panel.

Dress smartly, bring Photo ID, and proof of any necessary qualifications. You’ll get your result within 5 working days, along with feedback from the panel. If you're successful, we'll reach out about the next steps and pre-employment checks.

If you need to reschedule, call us at 0300 122 8900 or email careers@leics.police.uk

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Step 3: Pre-Employment Checks

If you pass the interview, the next stage involves pre-employment checks to ensure you're ready to join us. These include:

Medical assessment

Our Occupational Health and Wellbeing team will assess your overall health, including eyesight, hearing, lung function, and colour vision. Please note, we do not conduct Body Mass Index (BMI) checks unless there are concerns related to your health. You’ll need to complete a medical history questionnaire, and depending on your history, we may contact your GP for more details. Once you’re declared medically fit, we’ll proceed to the next step.

To understand the medical process in more detail, watch the following video.

Watch the video

References

We’ll request references from your current employer and any previous employers over the last five years. Additionally, we’ll ask for a character reference. If you haven’t been employed for five years, speak with your recruitment officer for alternative options. We also have an attendance policy in place, so a review of your sickness history will be done during this stage.

Vetting

We carry out confidential security checks on you and your close family, including: spouse or partner, parents (and their partners), siblings (full, half and step), children aged 10 and over, as well as any adults living with you. These checks are kept confidential, and the results (apart from pass/fail) are not shared with anyone in the organisation.

For more information on vetting, watch the following video.

Watch the video

Financial checks

We’ll assess your financial status as part of the vetting process. This is because police officers have access to sensitive information, and we want to ensure there are no vulnerabilities to corruption. If you have any outstanding County Court Judgements (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs), or unresolved bankruptcy, your application may be impacted. If you’ve discharged bankruptcy debts, you’ll need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction, and at least three years must have passed since discharge.

Drugs test

As part of the pre-employment checks, you'll undergo a drug screening conducted by an external company called Abbott. The test will involve a hair sample to check for substances such as Cannabis (Cannabinoids), Amphetamines (including ecstasy), Cocaine, Opiates (e.g., morphine and heroin), Benzodiazepines and Methamphetamines.

You’ll need to sign a consent form to confirm your acceptance of the test and acknowledge that a positive result could affect your application. Please be honest about any medicines you’ve taken.

Once all pre-employment checks are successfully completed, we’ll send you a formal offer, a starter pack, and joining instructions.

Step 4: Offer and Contract

We’ll aim to send your offer letter 4-6 weeks before your start date. Once all checks are cleared, we’ll contact you to arrange your start date. You can then hand in your notice at your current job.

You’ll receive a Welcome Pack with your contract and useful information about working for the police. Be sure to complete the required documentation as quick as possible.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

While AI tools can be helpful, we value your unique voice and personal input. We encourage you to use your own words and ideas in your application. After all, that’s what sets you apart. If we detect AI-generated content, it may result in your application being rejected, so please keep it authentic!

Using AI within your application

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