The Police Regulations 2003

Qualifications for appointment to a police force E+W

10.—(1) A candidate for appointment to a police force—

[F1 (a) must, if not a national of [F2 the United Kingdom or an EEA State], have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period;]

(b) must produce satisfactory references as to character, and, if he has served in any police force, in the armed forces, in the civil service or as a seaman, produce satisfactory proof of his good conduct while so serving;

[F3 (ba) must have attained the age of 17 years;]

(c) must have attained the age of [F4 18 years] [F5 before being appointed to a police force];

(d) must be certified by a registered medical practitioner approved by the [F6 local policing body] to be in good health, of sound constitution and fitted both physically and mentally to perform the duties on which he will be employed after appointment;

(e) must meet the standard of eyesight determined by the Secretary of State;

[F7 (ea) must have a selected qualification or experience, within the meaning of paragraph (1A) [F8 before being appointed to a police force];]

(f) must, if a candidate for appointment in the rank of constable, satisfy the chief officer that he is sufficiently competent in written and spoken English, and sufficiently numerate, by passing such assessments in written and spoken English, and numeracy, as may be approved by the Secretary of State;

(g) must, if a candidate for appointment in the rank of sergeant, or inspector, be qualified for promotion to such rank in accordance with the provisions of the Promotion Regulations;

(h) must give such information as may be required as to his previous history or employment or any other matter relating to his appointment to the police force;

[F9 (i) must, unless he is applying to transfer to the force from another police force, on being so required by the chief officer of the force to which he is a candidate for appointment give a sample of [F10 hair or oral fluid] or urine to be tested in accordance with procedures determined by the Secretary of State for evidence of such controlled drugs as the Secretary of State may determine];

[F11 (j) must, if a candidate for appointment under the [F12 FT Programme, the DE Inspector Programme or the DE Superintendent Programme], have passed the assessment centre in respect of that programme.]

[F13 (1A) A selected qualification or experience is a qualification or type of experience selected by the chief officer from a list determined by the Secretary of State, and a determination under this paragraph may confer such functions on the chief officer or any other person in relation to the listed qualifications or experience as the Secretary of State thinks fit.]

(2) A candidate for appointment to a police force shall be given a notice in terms approved by the Secretary of State drawing attention to the terms and conditions of service which shall be contained therein.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) “armed forces” means the naval, military or air forces of the Crown including any women’s service administered by the Defence Council, F14 ...

[F15 (aa) “assessment centre” means the assessment centre approved by the College of Policing for the purposes of the [F16 FT Programme, the DE Inspector Programme or, as the case may be, the DE Superintendent Programme];]

[F17 (ab) “national of the United Kingdom” means—

(i) a British citizen;

(ii) a person who is a British subject by virtue of Part 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom; or

(iii) a person who is a British overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar;]

(b) “seaman” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 M1 .

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 10(1)(a) substituted (7.11.2005) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2834), regs. 1(1), 2(2)

F2 Words in reg. 10(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 29(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Reg. 10(1)(ba) inserted (22.6.2020) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/546), regs. 1, 2(2)(a)

F4 Words in reg. 10(1)(c) substituted (19.9.2006) by The Police (Minimum Age for Appointment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2278), regs. 1, 3

F5 Words in reg. 10(1)(c) inserted (22.6.2020) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/546), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)

F6 Words in reg. 10(1)(d) substituted (16.1.2012 in relation to the Metropolitan police district; 22.11.2012 in relation to the other police areas in E.W.) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/3026), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(h)

F7 Reg. 10(1)(ea) inserted (25.11.2013) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2793), regs. 1(2), 3(a)

F8 Words in reg. 10(1)(ea) inserted (22.6.2020) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/546), regs. 1, 2(2)(c)

F9 Reg. 10(1)(i) inserted (7.11.2005) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2834), regs. 1(1), 2(3)

F10 Words in reg. 10(1)(i) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Police (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/680), regs. 1(2), 2(3)

F11 Reg. 10(1)(j) inserted (1.10.2014) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2372), regs. 1, 4(a)

F12 Words in reg. 10(1)(j) substituted (19.8.2016) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/798), regs. 1, 4(a)

F13 Reg. 10(1A) inserted (25.11.2013) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2793), regs. 1(2), 3(b)

F14 Word in reg. 10(3)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 29(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Reg. 10(3)(aa) inserted (1.10.2014) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2372), regs. 1, 4(b)

F16 Words in reg. 10(3)(aa) substituted (19.8.2016) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/798), regs. 1, 4(b)

F17 Reg. 10(3)(ab) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 29(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M1 1995 c. 21.