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Thank you for your interest in applying for a position with us. Due to the nature of the service we provide and in the interest of recruiting the best candidates to reduce crime, catch criminals and keep the people of Hertfordshire safe, our recruitment process may be more comprehensive than other processes you have experienced.
Ensure you complete all mandatory fields on the application form or you will be unable to submit your application. Please ensure you complete the supporting statements section, these vary depending on the role and will be explained on the advert and role profile. Please provide evidence of where you demonstrated the competency behaviours as per the role profile. Please note there is a word count limit on the applications and you should ensure your evidence fits within this limit.
A guide to the application form
Candidates are shortlisted by assessing the information on the application form against the personal qualities and minimum entry requirements. It is important that you complete the application form fully and carefully, ensuring you demonstrate with examples how you meet the various criteria.
If invited to interview you will be notified via telephone and email, this notification will usually be a minimum of seven days before the interview date. You will be required to produce valid identification at the interview (a list of suitable ID will be sent via email) for photocopies to be made. If your recruitment process includes your attendance at an assessment centre all information will be provided via email, for example certain roles may require you to complete a Police Initial Recruitment Test (PIRT) or computer test. For police officer candidates, you will need to attend a Police SEARCH® assessment centre.
If you are successful following the selection process you will receive a conditional offer and we will start progressing your pre-employment checks which includes: vetting, medical, references and for some roles, a fitness test. Until these checks are complete you should not hand in your notice with your current employer. For some roles if you are successful at the interview/selection stage you will be advised that you will be placed on a waiting list until the next available intake.
Regardless of which role you are interested in within BCH policing, including regulars, specials, PCSO, staff, agency, volunteers, cadet leaders, cadets, interns, apprentices and those working for us indirectly, like contractors, everyone is required to go through a police vetting process and in some cases, an additional national security vetting process. These processes also continue at regular intervals throughout your time in policing.
Vetting by its nature is intrusive into your personal life, the extent of the intrusiveness will depend upon your exact role within policing. There are also different levels of police vetting [RV/MV] and national security vetting [CTC/SC/DV]. But vetting is about how we can include you in the workforce, and not about trying to exclude you, unless it’s necessary of course.
If you have not lived in the UK all your life, you will need to have what is known as a Checkable History, this generally means that you must have been resident in the UK for at least the last three years. Some police roles require a higher level of vetting so your residency in the UK will need to be for a longer period.
Whilst this may all sound daunting, we look at each person and circumstances on an individual case by case basis, and each case on its own merits. Indeed, on average 85% of applicants pass the BCH Police Vetting process.
The Vetting process is one part of the pre-employment checks that are instigated by the HR department. The actual vetting part by the BCH Vetting Unit on average takes about one month but it can take much longer.
During the recruitment process, usually towards the end of it, you will need to complete a vetting questionnaire form. It is a fairly lengthy questionnaire so take your time and allow sufficient time to complete it. Please take it seriously and thoughtfully. You may need to partly save it so you can find specific information and come back to it another time. You must provide complete and accurate information in response to all vetting enquiries. If you fail to tell us about requested information, then this is likely to be regarded as evidence of unreliability and will be taken into account in assessing your suitability to hold vetting clearance.
The Vetting Questionnaire process is accessible online via a secure web link that will be sent to you by email. A username and password protection will be sent in a separate email. So look out for emails in your inbox or check your spam/junk folder.
Candidates will be provided with a work health questionnaire that must be completed and sent directly to the Occupational Health department. A full medical history must be disclosed as failure to do so may result in your application being rejected. Please complete the questionnaire carefully and thoroughly – if in doubt, disclose it. For the roles of police officer, special constable and PCSO, you will be required to attend a full medical and eyesight sight test. Full details will be provided nearer the time. If your role requires a psychological assessment, the Occupational Health department will arrange this with you directly.
References will need to be obtained from all employers (paid or otherwise) covering a minimum of three years. For internal candidates, references will be required from current line managers to ensure that there are no performance management concerns in any aspects of your role. In the case of Special Constables your progress with your Police Action Checklist (PAC), hours completed per month and progress towards becoming Fit for Independent Patrol will be taken into consideration.
For the roles of police officer, special constable and PCSO, you will be required to pass a fitness test. You need to achieve 5.4 on a bleep test.
Once all pre-appointment checks have been concluded and approved, and a start date agreed, a final offer and written statement of particulars/conditions of service will be issued.
On the first day of the role you will be required to attend an access control appointment to receive your warrant card. This will be followed by an induction into your role (this varies depending on the department or role).
You will be required to successfully complete a minimum six month probationary period. This will vary depending on role, for police officers the probationary period is two years.
If you require any further information or need clarity on any of the above points please don’t hesitate to email us.