Is a career in policing right for me?

Find out whether you are suited to becoming a police officer, whether you are eligible and the support and benefits of becoming an officer.

As one of the largest police forces in the South West, Avon and Somerset Police offers a unique, rewarding and stimulating career.

If you choose to join us through our different pathways you will serve as a police officer from your first day and be supported through professional training and development to help you reach your full potential.

Eligibility

To become an officer you will need to meet the national eligibility criteria and any additional requirements set by individual forces.

We encourage you to review both sets of eligibility criteria before applying. Incomplete or ineligible applications may not progress to the next stage.

National requirements

Complete the eligibility criteria quiz on the Joining the Police website to find out whether you have met the national eligibility requirements.

Avon and Somerset Police’s requirements

You must:

be aged 17 or over (aged 18 by offer of employment)
have lived in the UK continuously for the past three years
be a British citizen, an EU, EEA or Commonwealth citizen, or a foreign national with indefinite leave to remain
have a full UK manual driving licence by the time you start. If you are unlikely to pass your test before the course starts, your application will not progress
live within the force area from your first day. You may be posted anywhere in the area and should live within 30 miles or 45 minutes travel of your posting
have a Level 2 qualification in Maths and a grade C or 4 or above in English Language (you will need to provide proof)
hold additional qualifications to the above, for certain police officer routes. These will be listed on each route page, if applicable

You cannot apply if you:

have an unsatisfied County Court Judgement
are currently bankrupt or within three years of discharge
are under a Debt Relief Order or have been within the past three years
are a member of banned or extremist political groups
have tattoos that could cause offence
attended a College of Policing assessment centre in the last six months
applied unsuccessfully to another force in the past six months
are on the Police Barred or Advisory List within five years for misconduct or three years for performance issues
have any criminal convictions or cautions. Minor offences will be reviewed case by case

International qualifications

If you have an international qualification, it is your responsibility to arrange for your certificate to be translated into English and provide evidence the qualification is equivalent to your chosen route’s requirements. Once your qualification has been translated, visit the UK ENIC website for help in providing the evidence.

On receiving the required certificates, we will assess your suitability against the national eligibility criteria.

Suitability

If you are still deciding whether joining Avon and Somerset Police is the right choice for you, complete these quizzes to guide you:

the Is policing right for me? quiz will ask about your ability to prioritise the needs of others, approach to working and confidence in judging situations
the Entry route explorer quiz looks at your education level, training and experience to suggest the best route into policing for you

You can also read our guidance on what makes a good police officer, which includes an officer’s day-to-day tasks and what Avon and Somerset Police expect from officers.

Benefits

Find out the types of support and benefits you will receive as a police officer. You will also receive a fully funded qualification on the following routes:

PCDA route – an undergraduate honours degree in Professional Policing Practice
DHEP route – a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Policing Practice
PCEP route – a Level 5 Diploma in Professional Policing Practice

Experience policing before joining

If you are interested in policing but would like to experience what it is like before starting your recruitment journey, you can apply to take part in our Ride Along Scheme. This scheme will give you an opportunity to observe police officers or staff for a single shift.

Alternatively, if you are between 13 and 17, you may be interested in joining the Avon and Somerset Police Cadets. Our cadets have the opportunity to interact with Neighbourhood Policing teams, take part in team building and attend personal safety training.

You can also hear directly from our officers on our YouTube channel, for first-person accounts of what working at Avon and Somerset Police is like.

Ready to begin your journey?

Discover which route fits your background and ambitions.

View our routes into policing

Alternative routes into policing and frontline services

Read about our wide range of police staff role opportunities such as PCSOs, Communication Centre roles and other specialist staff roles.