Conditions of entry
Age
You have to be at least 18 to apply to Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Education
No formal qualifications are required. All applicants will need to pass the standard Police Initial Recruitment process.
Eyesight
| The current eyesight standards are: | Guide to Optician's Chart |
| Unaided vision (without spectacles or lenses) 6/36 or better in either eye (2nd line down on optician's chart) is required. Binocular vision (vision with both eyes) worse than 6/6 (7th line on optician's chart) requires correction. Aided vision (wearing lenses or spectacles) 6/12 or better in either eye (5th line down on optician's chart) and 6/6 or better using both eyes (binocular vision) is required. Near vision 6/9 with both eyes together (aided). | A 6/60 |
| BC 6/36 | |
| DEFG 6/24 | |
| HIJKLM 6/18 | |
| NOPQRSTU 6/12 | |
| VWXYZABCD 6/9 | |
| EFGHIJKLMNO 6/6 | |
| PQRSTUVWXYZ 6/5 |
Applications from those who have undergone Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), LASIK or LASEK surgery will be accepted provided that six weeks have elapsed since surgery, there are no residual side effects and the other eyesight standards are met.
Health
The Equality Act applies to the police service and the new medical standards can be found in the relevant Home Office Circular. (Click here to find the relevant page on www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk). All applicants must undertake and pass a medical and fitness test.
The two test elements are as follows:
- Endurance fitness (multi-stage shuttle run); 4 shuttles at level 5 (5/4)
- Dynamic strength (Upper-body strength) on a dyno machine - push strength of 34 kg; pull strength of 35 kg
Height
There are no height restrictions to join the Constabulary.
Nationality
You must be a British citizen, an EC/EEA national or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. You must have been a resident in the UK for three years, without breaks prior to the date you signed your completed application form. The calculation of the three year period of time refers to the period immediately before an application is made.
This is to satisfy the requirement to vet all applicants in an equitable manner since the UK Police Service does not currently have any means of facilitating vetting checks overseas to the extent required of those who have been resident in the UK.
Applicants who cannot be vetted cannot be appointed.
Gloucestershire Constabulary has agreed a reasonable concession to consider applications from applicants who have been outside the UK provided this does not exceed more than 3 months within the last 3 years.
It should be noted that the Chief Officer reserves the right to refuse employment without giving reason under Section 6 Police Act 1966 and the Police (Scotland) Act 1967.
Probationary period
Student Officers will have their appointment as a Constable confirmed after successfully completing a two year probationary period.