Specials

Hi all, I've been advised to practice SHL practice tests in preparation for numerical and verbal reasoning tests which I will shortly be undertaking. I've had a look at some of the practice numerical tests and I think they're absolutely solid! http://www.shldirect.com/practice_tests.html Does anyone agree? Are the real tests likely to be this difficult?

Hi, So this may seem like an odd, or obvious question. But with regards to long hair, how is it usually looked upon in force? Are views very much gender specific? I'm a guy with long hair (shoulder length), I'm considering applying for the specials but, as vain as it is, I'd really not have to lose my hair, especially for a voluntary position. I may feel differently if I were applying for the regular force. Would appreciate people's insight on this. Thanks

Hi, I'm 16 and leave school in a few months and i am committed to joining the Police .I am aware of the affect on social life , family life etc and that it isn't always exciting/interesting , but there isn't much else that I would want to be doing as a career. Apart from improving fitness and trying to get decent grades , can you offer any advice as to what I can do to improve my chances of getting in? I assume getting a job that involves dealing with public (retail/supermarket store) would be a good start.Thanks.

Hi did anybody attend the assessment day on 9th? I am now anxiously awaiting my results! Does anybody know roughly how long I will have to wait? It's killing me! Thanks

Profuse apologies in advance if another thread similar to this exists. I'm just wondering if, without going into too much detail, many forces have a different internal recruitment process for PCs? In my force the application is identical whether you're applying externally, which hasn't happened for 5 odd years anyway, or internally. The thing I think is that we should have much more emphasis on our performance throughout our Specials careers, rather than at-face-value interviews etc. I've never applied internally, but I see some people make it in full-time, and others that don't, and think how can this be when I know how they perform as Specials, or indeed as Police Sta…

I have the list of the core competencies I will be assessed on they are; Personal responsibility Teamwork Effective communication Respect for diversity Customer and community focus I am currently preparing myself for these competencies however, I was wondering if they will throw any surprise competencies my way. I've heard of people being asked about a time they were resilient etc, If it's not on my briefing pack then how likely is it that I will be asked something like this? Do they ask any none competency based questions if they have not warned me beforehand? I am NOT asking for any specific answers I'm just wondering if I should put all my effort into my curren…

So after a grand total of 12 months, I am through the vetting process. Been given a course start date at the start of January. Just wondering if there are any suggestions or pointers on anything I can do to prepare myself beforehand? Any specific reading material or resources I can look up on would be very helpful if anyone has any! Really looking forward to 2014. Feeling accomplished

Morning Guys , Basically just wanting your personal opinions on something that recently arose. I am currently a Special Constable serving for my local force (Remaining Un-named). They recently had a recruitment drive and I applied internally to become a regular. Yesterday I received a letter through the post saying that I had been rejected because of a tattoo that I have , although I had this tattoo when I became a Special. So basically , they don't mind me doing it for free In my own time , wearing an under shirt , but they wont take me on as a regular. I personally think that this is absolutely disgusting and I now cannot help but feel remorse towards the force , I am …

Hello all, First time poster - please go easy on me. Pleased to say I have been asked to attend the Assessment Centre in respect of my recent Specials application. Can anyone tell me whether Specials go through the same assessment process as a PC applicant? I.E do Specials have to do the role plays, written, verbals tests etc etc. Are we sent out a welcome pack in advance of the assessment? Many thanks A

Hi there, sorry this is my first post and I know this will have been covered so many times before however I'm using my phone and this is playing on my mind. I sent my application in as a Special in October and have been invited to an assessment centre at the end of this month. So that's all good ! Anyways, my question is regarding when they actually do the checks that they're going to do on me. Within my application I mentioned my cautions and speeding fines etc. I have 2 cautions which are over 5 years old, 1 (or maybe even both) where back when I was a juvenile. I was also given a referral order nearly 10 years ago however to my understanding a referral order isn't a…

Hi All, I have been thinking of applying for the police for a while and read that asthma will be considered. Does anyone know how likely i will be to be accepted with asthma? Thanks

Hi there, Does anyone know what this will include at all as i've just been told I have to do this after not doing so well on the first hearing test. Cheers

Hello, I would have posted in my force's section but my last question has gone unanswered. Think I've made a boo boo. I have my Specials interview on Wednesday, so far I've completed online tests, fitness test and biometric tests. On my application form one of the questions asked whether I'd previously applied to be a police officer and what had I done to prepare since. I answered 'not applicable' as I didn't think it would be relevant. I did apply to be a police officer for Greater Manchester Police but that was 18 years ago and a different force to what I'm applying to now? (I only got as far as passing the entrance and fitness test but ended up moving to Germany). N…

I failed vetting with my chosen force and was never told why, but i had an idea why. Just wondering has anyone, or anyone heard of someone applying again and passing? My circumstances have changed recently so im hoping that will solve it, if it was the reason i failed. Ive got a feeling that once youve failed it does not matter you will always fail. Any thoughts are welcome and appreciated.