Police officer (RFS)

During the eligibility process, we must check you meet all the following criteria before you can continue with your application.

You must:

• be aged 17 or over
• have been a UK resident for the past three years continuously
• be either a British Citizen, a citizen of the EU, EAA, or Commonwealth or foreign national with indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• have a full UK manual driving licence at the time of offer (end of November 2025). Full driving licenses need to be obtained before the course starts. If you are unlikely to pass your driving test before the course starts, your application will be rejected
• reside within the force boundaries from the first day of your appointment. You will be posted depending on organisational demand, anywhere within the force area. We expect you to reside within 30 miles or with a travelling time of up to 45 minutes from your posting
• have a minimum of a Level 3 qualification, for example, 2 A Levels or equivalent. As a guide, an acceptable Level 3 qualification would be gained over a two-year learning period – PCDA entry only
• have at least a Level 2 in Maths, and at least a grade C or 4 in English language at time of application

You must not:

• have a County Court Judgement (CCJ), which has not been satisfied
• be currently declared bankrupt and for a period of three years afterwards
• be subject to a Debt Relief Order and for a period of three years afterwards
• be a member of certain national groups, for example, British National Party, Combat 18 or National Front
• have any tattoos which would cause offence
• have attended a College of Policing assessment centre in the last six months
• have had an unsuccessful application with another police force in the past six months
• have been placed on the Police Barred and Advisory Lists within five years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or three years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance
• have any criminal convictions or cautions (minor offences will be considered)

Additional qualification requirement

For all police officer entry routes, you will need to provide proof of your Level 2 qualifications

Is policing right for me?

Take a quiz on the Join the Police website to find out if a career as a police officer might be right for you.

Meet our police officers

Read some of the inspiring stories of our police officers, about their roles and how who they are has helped them carry out their duties.

We offer a unique, stimulating and rewarding career with an opportunity to make a real difference to your community.

You will work as an officer from your first day and we will enable you to unleash your full potential by providing dedicated support and training that will support your professional development.

As a police officer, you will engage directly with our communities and will be responsible for ensuring they receive an outstanding policing service.

Our officers are leaders who make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of the public that we serve every day. We see individuality as a strength and empower our people to make the right decisions for the public that we serve.

Find out the types of support and benefits you will receive as a police officer.

When working as a police officer, you will:

• be driven to make a difference, providing an outstanding service to all communities in the Avon and Somerset area
• have the courage and integrity to hold a position of trust and responsibility
• be passionate about making a difference, helping others in their time of need, possibly on the worst day they have experienced
• have the ability to communicate effectively and understand the right tone and approach to take when faced with unpredictable and changeable situations
• be able to think quickly and clearly and make good decisions under pressure
• actively learn from situations that did not go to plan and reflect on what can be improved, taking feedback and encouraging others to learn
• have cultural awareness and want to actively engage in partnerships with others, understanding their needs whatever their background and situation
• be an ambassador for policing: professional, friendly and focused on building relationships with communities, colleagues and partner agencies
• be enthusiastic, reliable, self-disciplined, adaptable and compassionate enough to take control of situations
• take pride in your work and be proud to be a police officer

The role of a police officer is varied, you will encounter a wide range of situations and no two days will be the same. As a police officer, you might:

• work alongside communities, liaising with community groups and individuals
• provide a visible presence to deter crime and reassure the community
• provide support and reassurance to people who have been subjected to a crime or anti-social behaviour
• conduct patrol duties on foot, by car and bicycle
• develop community knowledge to identify individuals and locations at risk of being involved in crime
• respond to calls and requests from the public to assist at incidents
• keep the peace at public meetings, social events, processions, trade disputes or strikes
• diffuse potentially volatile situations with regard for the safety of all involved
• act with sensitivity when dealing with situations such as delivering news of a sudden death or when dealing with sexual crimes
• conduct initial investigations, gather evidence, take statements and comply with relevant legal requirements
• interview suspects, victims and witnesses in accordance with relevant legislation
• conduct arrests with due regard for the human rights, security and health and safety of detained individuals, members of the public, colleagues and yourself
• prepare crime reports and present case files
• attend and give evidence in court and at other hearings