A boost for the unemployed is announced today (Wednesday) as Wiltshire Police revealed its second recruitment campaign giving opportunities to anyone aged from 18 to 57 to start a career as a police officer.
Tuesday 12 November is the vital date from which those wanting to become a man or woman in blue – initial salary £19,000 a year – can apply online during a 10-day period to show that they have the right skills and devotion to duty to be considered.
The police expect a big response, its website receiving an unprecedented 300,000 hits during the three hours it was open for applications in January when, in total, 41 candidates of the 1,064 applicants were successful.
That is why the application period has been considerably extended this time following January’s recruitment drive, which was the first time any police force in the South West had recruited new officers since the launch of the Government’s comprehensive spending review in October, 2010.
Chief Constable Pat Geenty told Marlborough News Online: “I am delighted that we are in a position to recruit additional police officers. Although the service is facing many challenges, policing remains an excellent career choice.
“It offers an exceptionally diverse career in public service, offering individuals the chance to make a real difference to local communities.”
Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson added: “This recruitment campaign will help us to maintain police officer numbers and ensure that there continues to be a highly visible policing presence in our local communities.
“We are also particularly encouraging applications from minority ethnic communities, as they are presently under-represented within Wiltshire Police.”
But Superintendent Charlie Armstrong, Head of People Standards and Support, warned: “This is a tough application process and often applicants who made it through the first few stages don’t make it all the way through.
“It is our job to ensure that this recruitment process enables us to get the right people for the role, giving us the best candidates as police officers.
“This time, we are opening the recruitment online pre-assessment tool for 10 days. It will be accessible 24 hours a day and will close at 10am on Friday 22 November.”
And he added: “We hope that this recruitment campaign will create a pool of police officer applicants from which to fill future intakes. Successful recruits may start training in the summer and autumn 2014.
“The application process is robust. It takes around 46 weeks to progress through the various stages from the initial application stage to the date employment starts with Wiltshire Police.
“We hope to receive applications from across the country to recruit the best future police officers for Wiltshire.”
Applications are welcomed from both current Wiltshire Police staff and from members of the public.
Applicants must be aged between 18 and 57 and be able to prove the following qualifications:
• Level 3 qualification (A Level Grade E) or above, in any subject or equivalent
• GCSEs A*- C in English Language or Literature or equivalent, CSE English Grade 1, O Level English Grade C or above
• GCSE Maths A* – E, or functional/numeracy skills Level 2 or equivalent.
In addition, all applicants must:
• Be physically fit and in good health – you will be required to pass a medical examination and fitness test
• Have good unaided vision and must not suffer from any morbid eye conditions. Severe colour vision deficiencies would not pass the eyesight test
• Be a British Citizen or a member of the European Community, European Economic Area, Commonwealth Citizen or be a foreign national who is resident in the UK, free of restrictions and with unrestricted leave to remain
• Have lived in the UK for three years prior to the date the application is made
• Hold a full UK driving licence by the date of appointment (start date)
• Not have any outstanding county court judgements against them or have been registered bankrupt without the debts having been discharged.
All applicants should also be aware that:
• There is no maximum or minimum height restriction
• All applicants will have samples of their DNA and their fingerprints taken as part of the vetting process and a search against any outstanding crimes will be made before an appointment is made
• All police officer candidates will be subject to alcohol and drugs misuse testing before an appointment is made
• If you are or ever have been a member of the BNP or similar organisations (Combat 18, National Front ) your application will be rejected
• Convictions or cautions will not necessarily preclude you from appointment. It will depend on their nature and the circumstances of the offence. Failure to disclose convictions or cautions will, however, result in your application being terminated
• Tattoos will not necessarily preclude you from appointment. However there are limitations on the design and location of the tattoo. This will be assessed in the application process.
Applicants must apply via the online pre assessment tool which can only be hosted on the following browers; Internet Explorer, Firefox 3.6, Google Chrome 8, Safari 5 (Mac and PC). The online pre assessment tool has not been developed for mobile platforms (iPads, tablets, iPhones ) so applicants will need to use a laptop or normal computer.
For more information please call the dedicated Resourcing Team phone line on 01380 734132 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or email policerecruit@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
Do NOT call 101 for information about the recruitment process.
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