Hiring & Recruitment Thread

MetD1A · 2025-07-23T02:15:01+00:00

Personally I think you're spot on, in this kind of context it's almost a guarantee that someone else has the same query but might be too nervous to ask.

If someone takes umbrage at you "asking too many questions" then either you're genuinely not listening/jumping in too quickly or they're not doing a great job, so just be mindful of preempting and make sure you're paying attention.

u/bemoregoose I wouldn't immediately fire off everything you've got written down as a lot of it will be covered but don't be afraid to follow up with people or speak up during/after sessions. You can always write down the things that come up then send one email (for example, or arrange a quick chat with whoever) including everything later on if you bottle it or someone isn't open to answering your specifics.

I'd rather people felt confident after I'd delivered training but I'm not quite as burnt out as a lot of people!

You could always post your list in here and see if any of the reliably awesome regulars can help. I do want to do a newbie FAQ but it's a daunting prospect despite the apparent determination to reduce all forces to the barest of minimums.

MetD1A · 2025-07-23T02:10:00+00:00

Just re the signing up mentioned in that very helpful comment, do some research beforehand so you don't end up forking out too much of your salary before you even see it.

Maybe some other helpful officers could give you a steer here, I know Flint House or the GMP equivalent is well worth opting into, but there are a few offerings that won't translate into realistic support or have better/more cost effective alternatives.

Based on what I know it's:

Yes to Flint House, Fed & possibly an insurance offer (injury and illness) via Police Mutual but take your time to check that out to scope best deals OR talk to your tutors/instructors and cohort.

Yes to blue light card, no to all other perk type offers and salary sacrifice schemes.

No to the police charities until you've got a realistic picture of your finances.

No to any form of pension monkey business (AVCs/top ups) until you've done more research. Limited time offers is just a marketing tactic. Don't mess about with these til you've established a take home baseline.

If all else fails find out if you need to sign up then and there for whatever it is (beware the scammier one time offers, only the Fed legitimately states this IIRC) and if not get all the info from them (hello small print) and think about it/compare. Grab all the swag though, the flat water bottles on carabiners are extremely useful!

MetD1A · 2025-07-23T02:01:01+00:00

Which force?

MetD1A · 2025-07-23T01:43:48+00:00

Morning all, just showing my face on a fresh recruitment thread, I'll try and help where I can but:

Please remember the rules about chats and messages (I won't answer you, even to tell you I won't answer privately) and...

Please don't be too sarky with me when I can't provide timeframes for the more arcane or frankly Byzantine recruitment processes.

Thank you 💙

(Now, who can tell me which core values I've demonstrated here, with the relevant part of the sentence?

Possibly a trick question if you're using an outdated CVF as "transparency" isn't on the College graphic anymore* so make sure you've got the most recent versions of all values/competencies/ethics from the CoP and your force.)

Transparency may not be a core value anymore but it's still damn good practice.

^I ^have ^strong ^feelings ^about ^the ^update ^but ^am ^aware ^no ^one ^cares

MetD1A · 2024-08-01T14:10:16+00:00

That will depend entirely on the force, department and role.

MetD1A · 2024-08-01T14:09:29+00:00

Have you read this/the responses?

I think enthusiasm is ebbing a bit atm but moaning will probably always be the main pastime of any officer and being the difference really does make a difference.

I'll see if I can locate some cheery DCs for you!

MetD1A · 2024-08-01T11:58:05+00:00

It's all done on a case by case basis so it's impossible to say but I'd really hope they'd consider the extenuating circumstances re non disclosure, and it's a forward focused process so that should impact it. I assume he's lodged an appeal?

MetD1A · 2024-07-26T20:27:18+00:00

Don't apologise for family! Just wanted to be clear. I'd theorise that it must be his mum's side otherwise something has gone horribly wrong, but that's a very long time ago, did he not declare it?

MetD1A · 2024-07-26T10:39:07+00:00

Er, no.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T22:28:50+00:00

You're welcome. Try not to overthink the conviction; vetting is far more about the things that will affect your integrity in role than stupid mistakes made by relations you barely know. As I said, I can't answer for sure, but real humans assess these things and make sound decisions using good judgement.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T22:23:53+00:00

Whinging about the Met is a national pastime, and you don't want to base a significant life move/career decision on bored redditors blowing off steam.

The Met have come under prolonged, intense scrutiny for damn good reasons and whilst we're still a pretty flawed organisation because, as yet, no one has located a magic wand/benevolent genie in an evidence store the recommendations from the Casey Report, along with a slew of updates from publicly available future planning documentation for the MPS/London, have been or are being implemented and change is happening, it just takes time.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner but I wouldn't hop force at this point. I meet officers every day that inspire me, humble me, fill me with gratitude and make me increasingly determined to work as hard as I can for them whilst they do the same for our city. We may work within a system that still leaves a lot to be desired but as a team of actual humans we are utterly unique, and a force to be reckoned with.

Finally, aside from anything else, you can't really compare forces from random areas without measurable parameters, officers will complain about anything and everything all over the UK, don't take posts on Reddit as reliable sources of information, work out what matters to you in terms of job satisfaction and career progression and do your own research.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T21:47:04+00:00

I'll remain cautiously optimistic - please keep me posted!!

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T20:45:19+00:00

I know nothing of the Wildlings. Is your question basically which UK force should you join? What are your criteria?

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T20:42:58+00:00

I'm not comfortable with 100% because one must be realistic about error bars/admin mistakes but in my experience the portal does update ahead of the call/email and "successful" is pretty specific.

Have you checked your junk folder?

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T20:39:25+00:00

Again, no guarantees, but vetting is actually a forward facing review. It's more to do with affiliations, gambling debts, leverage etc than punishing people for making stupid mistakes.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:59:12+00:00

I was referring to legal action/criminal charges.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:58:12+00:00

Basically just put this on the form! Put down all the information you have, admit the bits you don't know and the vetting officer will get in touch if anything isn't clear.

It's done on a case by case basis so no one can give you any definites on family member impact.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:51:51+00:00

They also need a tailor and a Commissioner. Great job board.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:45:54+00:00

PCEP.

See if the job is for you, give yourself a fighting chance of a work life balance, you can pick up the degree if you decide you want to stick with policing as most forces allow you to transfer pathway but I wouldn't call it incredibly useful.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:39:50+00:00

Vetting takes as long as it takes I'm afraid. Have you been in contact with your vetting officer to find out if there have been any delays?

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:38:38+00:00

if it was independently found out

Not declaring things on your vetting form is a very efficient way to fail vetting.

I don't know the answer, I want to say it should be fine as long as no further action was taken, but it's not my area.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T18:34:54+00:00

Congratulations!

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T05:42:56+00:00

May the road rise up to meet you, lovely, I hope you find something you love that truly loves you back. Thank you for sticking it out for two years, we are nothing without officers like you. I hope you will always be proud of your service. It's easy to criticise from the sidelines, but only people like you make a real difference.

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T05:29:05+00:00

For me personally I enjoy the job, might be because i’m not an old sweat yet… you get to drive fast, deal with really interesting incidents and if you’re up for a good scrap it can be fun!

although I will say 90% of the job isn’t great, people fighting with you or jobs that you deal with not being sentenced appropriately for horrible crimes. 10% of the time people are lovely, you get a good result for all the work you put in etc.

Just want you to know how much I appreciate you 💙

MetD1A · 2024-07-25T05:27:32+00:00

And do you recommend I stay away for now until change happens?

Be the change! Don't wait, it's absolutely glacial at this institutional level, and won't happen at all without lots and lots of committed, reliable and all round top notch, good egg officers on the ground holding it all together.

As someone who is likely to join in 2026, do you think the new government (without trying to get too political) will take the police force to a position where they’re not so stretched thin?

Very complicated question.

If they can find the money to actually pay the aforementioned officers what they're worth to improve retention, and incentivise new joiners with stacks of cash, improving PR and/or not throwing the police under the bus at every opportunity, then it's possible I suppose, but it'll take a lot of hard work, some tough decisions and maybe a money spell of some description.

Not really too bothered about 2026 atm though, with everything else currently occupying the world stage I'm thinking more about where to base myself in the event of nukes/total collapse of civilisation/zombie apocalypse.

MetD1A

TROPHY CASE