Police Constable

CHANGE

CAN REBUILD

TRUST

CHANGE NEEDS YOU

Become a Police Constable with the Met.
Apply now.

Do you want a fascinating career with both variety and long-term security?

Whether you want to protect local communities, move up the ranks, or thrive in a specialist team, there is a role for you. There are endless opportunities to further your long-term career at the Met, no matter which direction life takes you. The choice is yours. You can bring real change and improve the way we serve London communities, to ensure that the city is a safer place for all.

Are you up for the challenge?

Apply Now

CHANGE

BUILDS

BRIDGES

What’s it like day to day?

As an officer no two days are ever the same, but every day you will play a vital role in making this city a safer place for all.

The role of an officer is much more than blue lights and fast cars. Right from the start, you’ll be playing a vital role in helping to protect Londoners, working closely with communities to tackle crimes that matter most to them. You will wear a uniform with more than 190 years of history behind it.

In the course of a week, you might:

Respond to 999 calls for emergencies like robberies, traffic accidents or public disorder
Help victims of crime with emotional support and practical information
Investigate crimes and pursue offenders
Plan and deploy to longer term operations addressing problems like organised crime, drugs or gangs
Work with partners like local councils, NHS trusts, and schools to prevent crime and make communities safer – participating in community events and joint operations
Visit schools to share crime prevention information with young people
Deliver justice for victims of crime by building a case file and presenting evidence in court.

Find out more about life as an officer

POLICE CONSTABLE

“Knowing that when you finish for the day, you have made a difference to someone’s life and have ensured they are safe and out of harm’s way.”
Leigha Ravalia
POLICE CONSTABLE

“My drive is to protect and serve Londoners”
Akeem Griffiths
POLICE CONSTABLE

“I was always fascinated by police programmes and police cars when they drove by.”
Samson Akinnawo
Police Constable

“I’ve always had that inner feeling of wanting to protect people and make a difference in people lives.”
Tony Hazelhurst-Kilsby

What does it take to become a Police Constable?

Being a Police Constable is hard work. It requires physical, mental and emotional resilience, but you’ll be supported by your colleagues and the wider Met at every step of the way.

We are looking for people who are:

Excellent communicators
Thrive as part of a team
Curious and observant, and like to solve problems
Care deeply about helping people
Work well with young people
Have the resilience to cope with danger, threats and emotionally disturbing events
Available for shift-style working on nights and weekends (including public holidays)
Able to cope with the physical demands of the role (if you take regular exercise like walking, swimming or jogging, you should be able to pass the fitness test)

We protect and serve Londoners

The Metropolitan Police has always been here to keep London safe. As the largest police service in the UK, we cover policing for the 32 boroughs within Greater London, excluding the City of London, and we protect and serve more than 8 million people every day. On a local level, Met Officers take care of community police teams, emergency responses, and public protection from serious crimes. Specialist teams that operate across the city include firearms, public order, the dogs unit and counter-terrorism.

We’re working hard to win back Londoners’ trust and confidence, and we aim to inspire more trust, reduce crime and maintain very high standards. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and welcome applications from people from all walks of life. The London Race Action Plan and the wider New Met for London Plan outlines the next steps in the Met’s mission to become an inclusive, anti-racist organisation, truly representative of the diversity of London. The plan also sets out how the Met will better represent, respect, involve and protect Black Londoners. Our Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan charts how we’re tackling sexism and misogyny.

Which route is right for you?

	Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)	Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Programme (PCDA)
*Minimum qualifications?*	You must have – or be working towards one – 2 A-Levels or a Level 3 qualification. Training or work experience equivalent to a Level 3 qualification is also acceptable. You also must have a Level 2 in English at either a GCSE Grade C or above or Grades 4 to 9. We will also consider an English Language equivalent overseas qualification.	You must have – or be working towards one – 2 A-Levels or a Level 3 qualification. Training or work experience equivalent to a Level 3 qualification is also acceptable. You also must have a Level 2 in English at either a GCSE Grade C or above or Grades 4 to 9. We will also consider an English Language equivalent overseas qualification.
*How will you train?*	You will combine learning at a Met Police training centre with on-the-job experience of working in a Police team.	You will combine university learning with officer training and earn while you learn.
*How long does it take?*	2 years	3 years
*What happens when you finish?*	You will be a fully qualified Police Constable.	You will be a fully qualified Police Constable with a BSc in Policing Practice.
*How much will you earn?*	The starting salary is £38,269. On successful completion of training, you’ll earn £40,789. All salaries include allowances.	The starting salary is £38,269. On successful completion of training, you’ll earn £42,052. All salaries include allowances.
*What benefits will you receive?*	You’ll receive 22 days’ paid holiday every year, rising to 30 days the longer you work with us, along with special leave. You will have one of the best public sector pensions – offering a guaranteed monthly pension based on your salary and optional lump sum. You will have access to free and discounted travel perks. A wellbeing service including physiology, counselling and specialist support will be provided.	You’ll receive 22 days’ paid holiday every year, rising to 30 days the longer you work with us, along with special leave. You will have one of the best public sector pensions – offering a guaranteed monthly pension based on your salary and optional lump sum. You will have access to free and discounted travel perks. A wellbeing service including physiology, counselling and specialist support will be provided.
	This application route is paused for the foreseeable future. Please consider applying for the PCDA route.	Apply Now

What do we look for?

We hold our officers to high standards, and are only interested in candidates who align with our values:

I will always try to do the right thing. I will be fair and consistent in everything I do, being mindful of the impact of my actions. I will actively challenge those whose behaviour falls below public and the Met’s expectations.

I will show courage by making tough decisions when needed. I will always challenge racist, homophobic, misogynistic and any other discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour. I will show humility.

I will strive to build trust with the public, colleagues, and partners, by being open, honest and taking ownership for what I have done and why. I will admit when I make mistakes, learn from them and improve.

I will respect the rights of everyone I meet. I will listen to individual perspectives and needs. I will try my best to understand a diverse range of views and achieve the best possible outcomes for the public.

I will care about communities and colleagues and try to understand their perspectives and experiences, at all times. I will be kind and listen and understand without judgement. I will take time to clarify and explain my decisions.

- If you don’t have the required academic qualifications, work or military experience needed, we partner with London colleges who deliver an access route into policing.
- You must be between 18 and 57 to join us (but you can apply when you are 17).
- You need to pass a fitness test to join us. Start preparing now by watching our YouTube video for tips and download the Met’s 6 week training programme.
- Certain medical conditions may limit your ability to handle the job’s physical and mental demands. Find out which here: HM government medical standards.
- You must meet the police eyesight standards during your medical test.
- If you’re from the UK, you must have lived here continuously for the last three years (unless you have been serving abroad in the British Armed Forces).
- If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain.
- If you have tattoos, you’ll need to tell us about them. You can’t join with tattoos that are on your face, or the sides and front of your neck above the collar line. They also should not be offensive, violent, discriminatory, political or rude. See the full tattoo policy: Tattoo Policy
Working for the Met Police means holding a position of trust. We’ll check your:
- Criminal, intelligence and national security records
- Public records
- Credit agency records (in some cases)
- Social media presence
Having a previous caution or conviction doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from applying, but please be as open and honest as possible. If you hide anything from us or are dishonest in your application, you will be rejected.

Any information we gather in the vetting process is confidential and kept separate from your other recruitment data. We try to be as open and fair as possible during this process.
- If you have unpaid debts or liabilities, an outstanding county court judgement, or you can’t manage loans or debts sensibly.
- If you are or have been a member of organisations like the British National Party (BNP), Combat 18 or the National Front. This isn’t a full list.
- If you use illegal drugs. You’ll have to pass a substance misuse tests before joining.

How can you become a Police Constable?

It can take up to six months for the entire process to be completed, but the career that you will be building is worth the wait.

It will not only change your life but also the lives of Londoners everywhere.

Step 1: Online registration form and application

First, you’ll need to submit an online registration form and an application form, to make sure you pass our basic eligibility criteria.

A basic security check will be conducted, which takes around seven days.
Step 2: Behavioural skills questionnaire

This is a short, online assessment designed to check if you have the key behaviours and values we look for in our police constables.

We usually get back to you after around two weeks.
Step 3: Your online assessment
The online assessment is made up of three exercises:
- Competency based interview: use examples from your work and personal life to answer a series of questions.
- Written assessment: complete an urgent written task whilst assuming the role of a police constable.
- Briefing exercise: read material and answer questions based on what you have read as if you were a police constable.
You should complete this stage within about three weeks of Step 1. You can expect your results within three weeks of completing the assessment.
Step 4: Face to face Met Assessment

We’ll invite you to our Met recruitment centre in South London for an interview focused on our values. You’ll also complete a medical and fitness test in this stage.

You’ll usually attend this within about three weeks of receiving your online assessment results. You can expect your results within four to eight weeks, depending on personal circumstances.

Download six week training programme
Step 5: Pre-employment checks and vetting

These checks are there to make sure we are recruiting police officers who meet our standards of behaviour and share our values. The length of time this takes can vary. On average, it takes about two months.

You can find out more on the vetting process here.
Step 6: Offer of employment

If you’re successful we’ll make you a formal offer of employment and discuss the best date for you to join.

Vetting process & what to expect

Apply Now