Police staff

Please ensure you read the application form carefully and provide full, detailed answers to every question. Your application is an important first stage of the recruitment process, and the information you provide will be used to determine whether you meet Cheshire Constabulary’s eligibility requirements.

You may find it helpful to review Cheshire Constabulary’s recruitment process pages to understand what information may be required and how your application will be assessed

Apply online through the recruitment portal via the current vacancies page.

As part of your application, you will be asked to submit:

• Personal details and background information
• Eligibility information, including residency, qualifications, nationality, tattoos, and any declared convictions.
• Your motivation for applying, depending on the role you are applying for.

It is important to provide complete and accurate information. If you require reasonable adjustments during the selection process (e.g., for disability, learning differences, pregnancy, religious observance, injury, menopause), you may request these in confidence and the recruitment team will support you where possible.

For roles requiring competency based statements (e.g., Constable, Special Constable, or promotion processes), your responses may be scored against the College of Policing’s Competency and Values Framework (CVF). This ensures all applicants are assessed consistently, fairly, and according to the role level.

You will be notified of the outcome of each recruitment stage via email.

At this stage, you will be invited to attend an interview. The interview will last approximately 45 minutes and will be conducted in a formal, structured format. You will be asked a series of competency based questions, aligned to the criteria outlined in the candidate specification, to help us understand how you are likely to perform in the role you have applied for.

Depending on the recruitment process for the position, you may also be required to complete practical assessment exercises. Should these be included, full details will be shared with you in advance. These assessments are designed to evaluate a range of skills, including questioning techniques, listening ability, decision making, and IT proficiency.

Please ensure you attend in smart, professional attire.

We would also suggest you look at other sections of our website for information on our values and force priorities.

Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process by emailing [email protected] stating ‘Application support and adjustments’ in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01606 366900.

Where appropriate, we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable to do so.

If you are successful at interview, we will send you a conditional offer of employment together with details of the next steps. This offer will be subject to Vetting, Medical and Reference checks.

If you are currently employed, please do not hand in your notice of resignation.

Before anyone joins Cheshire Constabulary we need to undertake some vetting checks to identify and assess any identified risks including criminal records and credit reference checks.

To help us do this we ask you to complete a detailed vetting form which asks for details of your family members (parents, partner, children and siblings) and any criminal associates. You must let anyone whose details you have provided know that they will be looked into as part of your pre-employment checks. Legislative constraints mean that we are unable to disclose the results of enquiries on third parties.

We will also ask you to disclose financial information such as outstanding debts, CCJs etc. We will run a credit reference check on you. Police staff have access to privileged and highly sensitive information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption, so it’s important for us to understand your financial situation.

A health declaration form will be sent to you for completion which our Health Services team will screen. It is important that you complete the form accurately and do not withhold any information.

In some cases, they may need further information (for example from doctors or specialists) and you will be medically pended while this is being obtained.

The Equality Act 2010 covers all positions in Cheshire Constabulary. If you have a disability, adjustments will be made if it is reasonable to do so.

Cheshire Constabulary will request five years of employment and/or education references, but only after you have accepted the conditional offer and confirmed your consent for referees to be contacted. Where you may have gaps in education and/or employment a character reference will need to be sought.

A character reference cannot be written by a close family member or someone who doesn't know you well. A character reference should be honest, balanced, and highlight your personal qualities, not just your skills.

If successful, you will receive a formal offer of employment.

Please do not resign from any existing post until you have received the formal offer.

The start date will be confirmed in line with your notice period and detailed on your formal offer.