ianmiller999

For quite a while now I have wanted to join the police force.

My understanding is that you are allowed to apply at 18 but cannot actually join up until you are 18 1/2

I am currently 16 and in year 11 at school last year of GCSEs and have started doing regular exercise about 10/20 minute jog each day and some light weight training in order to pass the fitness test.

What I would like to do ideally is continue at school with A-levels and when I am 18 (I will be halfway through my last year) apply to join the police force and hopefully go straight in at 18 1/2.

My main question is am I likely to be accepted or do I need to have worked in other jobs before hand? How many applicants at the age of 18 are successful? and of those which are not what are the reasons they are not accepted?

IanW

http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk

Should answer EVERY question that you need.

ianmiller999

Cheers taking a look now.

ianmiller999

Or maybe not as the site is down, will try again later, Thankyou anyway.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

The site's not down mate, it's just that the people who run it are all out catching evil speeding motorists:

Alcazar

ianmiller999

Seems the site is not down just that mozilla won't load it.. back to IE

lmsbman

I would suggest that you get a normal job for a couple of years to gain some experience in life. As a Police Officer, people ask you for all sorts of advice and it is easier to answer them if you have some experience of 'normal' life. You will also struggle to earn any respect at 18.

MooseRacer

If not another job first, think about travelling or something similar to 'broaden your horizons'.

It will help you in your application, and subsequently in your job. Best of luck.

ianmiller999

Cheers guys now all I have to do is think of what to do to broaden my experiences in life.

Luckyly enough I have a bit of time on my side to reasearch and decide exactly what I would like to do.

T.C

Something you may also wish to consider (if you can find a force that still has them) is join as a Police Cadet.

You join at 16, you continue with your education, as well as doing character building courses such as Outward Bound. You get to do your lifesaving qualifications, first aid and the like, you also get an insite into the service by working in various departments and going out on patrol. and at 18 1/2 you then join the regular service and work for a short while as an untrained PC (control room and the like before going to training school. The best part is, you get paid for it whilst doing it.

I know it was a long time ago, but I thouroughly enjoyed my time as a cadet. I left home at 16, I went to applecross in Scotland for my Outward bound, I did charity service work, I did patrol work, the whole bit and then went into the service as a regular when I was old enough. The best part was, that i was fit, i knew what the job was all about, you were taught to work as part of a team, but it made me grow up very quickly, because I couldn't go home crying to my Mum because my parents lived too far away.

As I say, maybe worthy of consideration.

yoza

Go to 5ive-0.com ask for Medders, bear you left breast and roll up your trouser leg, and hey presto, your in!...Easy.

Poor Guy

Police SERVICE mate.

medders

You have to do FAR more than the Yoza

yoza

Maybe. But once youve past that hurdle, its all plain sailing.

Keep up the good work.

medders

sorry, that sounded rude.
I meant to say, you have to do far more than THAT yoza

Lost it's humour !

scoobynutta555

we've had the youngest age, what's the oldest you can join. And I'll guess that ton+ on the Mway goes against you

doorman

join the police force are you mad.you'll end up with no mates and marrying old bill and all. oooooh myyyyy god. mind you'you do get to speed beat people up and get away with it!!!

[Edited by doorman - 1/25/2004 6:11:48 PM]

stormyuklondon1

**** me, thats rich coming from somone called doorman!

ianmiller999

LMAO

doorman

i'm there to stop the violence not to start it.fool!

mike16v

As has been said, if you are sure it is what you want to do, apply to join as a cadet... that way, you get experience of the police, and also an eye opener incase you find it is not for you.

Also, get a job 1st, or some other "life experience"...

I wanted to join after school, but my folks talked me into university 1st. I did my degree at uni, and worked for an oil company for 2.5 years and applied for the Police last September. I have my enterance exams at the end of Feb and if I pass then there is the fitness test etc after that (don't expect a fast entry! and don't believe it when you are told "the application process is 3 to 4 months...!")

Good luck in whatever you do

Mike

ianmiller999

Can I ask what you did for the oil company because one of my ideas if I didn manage to get in the police force was to try and work on a oil rig or something for a year or two to build up some cash etc and then come back and try and re-apply.

How many of these cadet centres are there? Where abouts?

r32

You are are drawn to the dark side .........

[Edited by r32 - 1/25/2004 8:39:30 PM]

mike16v

I worked in finance as it was related to my degree...

Had a look on the Devon police site for you...

http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/

Can't see Cadets... they have special constabulary (voluntary work) but good to do that while gaining the "life experience" in another job )

Info on Special Constabulary....

http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/...ials/index.htm



Cadet info for Met - http://www.met.police.uk/cadets/

Cadet info for Strathclyde - http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/rec...ent_cadet.html

Not everywhere has cadets though... get in touch with your local police HR dept to see what there is near you... or, even better, speak to a local police officer as they may have a bit of time to chat to you and answer more questions than an HR dept would be able to

Hope this is of help to you

stormyuklondon1

how noble. and i don't speed everywhere and beat people up. cretin


[Edited by stormyuklondon1 - 1/26/2004 9:33:24 AM]

[Edited by stormyuklondon1 - 1/26/2004 9:44:16 AM]

scoobynutta555

Whats the upper age limit for joining up then?

lmsbman

Technically you can join right up to the leaving age of 55. However, in reality, I doubt many forces would take someone over 45 because it costs a lot to train you and they want to get there monies worth out of you!