Police Now recruit and train talented graduates into policing, who work on big societal issues, help create safer communities and drive a positive and fair internal culture in policing.
The assessment centre for our graduate programmes includes an interview, role plays, a written exercise and a group activity. You’ll be given the opportunity to:
- Step into the shoes of a neighbourhood police officer and engage with community members in a hypothetical scenario.
- Use your ability to process new information, make informed decisions, and communicate your findings clearly by writing an incident summary.
- Work collaboratively with other candidates, contributing your ideas and demonstrating your leadership potential in a neighbourhood team meeting.
- Take part in an interview during which we will explore your transferable skills, and motivations for joining Police Now.
- Debrief and reflect on what you thought went well and any aspects of the assessment centre that you might have found challenging.
What do Police Now assessors look for?
Our assessors will be looking for you to show your motivation for joining the programme and to demonstrate these competencies:
- Ownership
- Emotional awareness
- Collaboration
- Critical analysis
- Innovation
- Cultural awareness
- Resilience
We recommend that you think about times when you have used these skills, whether that be inside or outside of your degree.
Tips for success
1 - Research the role and our graduate programme structure.
Policing has faced many challenges in recent years - a good understanding of what those challenges are and a strong motivation to bring cultural change within the force is imperative.
Understanding the two-year programme will improve your awareness of what will be involved in terms of training, support and mentoring and longer-term options.
2 - Attend a pre-assessment centre coaching session.
We know you’ll want to be prepared, so we offer you the chance to meet a Recruitment Officer beforehand who will give you a walkthrough of each activity and what to expect. You can also discuss any adjustments you may need, and we can tailor your schedule accordingly.
3 - Remember what you can bring to policing.
Graduates who join us are from a range of degree subjects with unique perspectives and fresh ideas. Some are now in leadership roles on the frontline, others are now shaping future policy.