personal statement police officer

Applying to Uni
Apprenticeships
Health & Relationships
Money & Finance

Personal Statements

Postgraduate
U.S Universities

University Interviews

Vocational Qualifications
Accommodation
Budgeting, Money & Finance
Health & Relationships
Jobs & Careers
Socialising

Studying Abroad

Studying & Revision
Technology
University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

Postgraduate Personal Statements

International Student Personal Statements

Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

I have always been fascinated by the way police deal with stressful and demanding situations and find that when I always see them in the street in their uniform I want to be looked upon as an integral part of a community. For some time now I have considered the prospects of university and what it will be like to learn in such a compelling environment.

I think that the policing course will provide me with all the essential knowledge to become an outstanding police officer therefore, I am looking forward to all of the topics covered but most of all the practical work, because I will be able to show what I can do best, although the 'operational policing' topic seems very interesting.

As you will notice on my UCAS form I took sociology and there is a reason for this and that is because of the crime and policing topic which I am doing this year, despite all of the other topics that were interesting this is by far the most motivating topic in attracting me to your course. I think that crime and policing is fascinating topic and I will enjoy the course to my full potential.

I think it might be good to mention that I have had to rely on the police in the past and found that they dealt with my situation effectively, and prepared me to finally make the decision to become a police officer. There is little I have done that relates to the course because of the age restrictions that I have later mentioned, but that does not make me less enthusiastic about the topic in fact it makes me want to do it more because of the fact I want to learn much more about the subject.

To learn a little more I am currently reading a book called 'Policing a diverse society' by a man called Phil Clements. At the moment the book Is very appealing and was made for foundation degree students and is a perfect asset to my application.

In year 10 I applied for my work experience with my local police station unfortunately I wasn't old enough, therefore I went on a placement where I could get a good understanding of helping people and get a real feel of a working environment, similar to that of working with the police. I have been awarded a CSLA (community sports leader award), in which we had to teach and look after year 2's to year 6's and part of this was 10 hours of community work with a local primary school teaching kids basketball. From the community work with the CSLA I have gained a greater understanding of helping in a community, a prospect which I am greatly looking forward to in the police force.

When I'm not in school and in my free time I like to enjoy a good game of badminton, or if that's not available I will either go to the gym or go for a swim to keep fit. I have been fond of badminton since I can remember and have always been keen on the sport. I currently have a part-time job at a hotel where I live in which I prepare food and make deserts and starters. I generally have this job to save money for university and monthly necessities.

I am seriously looking forward to your course and the enjoyment and work of university life. After I complete my foundation degree, with all of the skills, knowledge and work with the Northampton police, I hope to peruse my chosen career path and become a member of the Great British police force.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Goode for application in 2008.

Goode's Comments

Its not what I thing I want to know what you all think =)

Related Personal Statements

Thu, 11/12/2008 - 11:03

what university was this policing course that u applied for at please?

Fri, 12/12/2008 - 11:03

excuse me mr! i have asked u a question please answer it!!! rudeness!!

Fri, 12/12/2008 - 11:04

helllooooooooooooooooooo anybody here

me and u x x

Fri, 12/12/2008 - 11:06

ow long did tha take ya 5 minits x x x x i want u! x x x x

Tue, 10/02/2009 - 21:51

Sorry I have been soo busy with all this school work and so on. I applied to Northampton, Canterbury, Wolverhampton, Huddersfield and Cumbria.

oh did this statement get you

Mon, 19/10/2009 - 20:27

oh did this statement get you in to one of the universities or not??

Add new comment

AI Content Shield
AI KW Research
AI Assistant
SEO Optimizer
AI KW Clustering
Customer reviews
The NLO Revolution
Press Center
Help Center
Content Resources
Facebook Group

Police Application Personal Statement Example & Tips

Table of Contents

A job as a police officer is one of the world’s most demanding and rewarding jobs. This guide offers a good police application personal statement example to teach you how to structure your statement.

A personal statement example shows an employer that you have the skills to work in law enforcement. Read on to see how to structure a good police personal statement and learn from an example.

Personal Statement for a Police Application

Many people aspire to a law enforcement career and envision themselves as police officers. You merely need a high school diploma or equivalent, such as the General Educational Development (GED), to qualify.

To begin your career as a police officer, you must first be accepted into and graduate from a police academy. But there’s more to it than just filling out an application.

A solid education, application requirements, and a battery of exams are needed to qualify and progress in your area. If you have professional expertise, cover letters and personal statements can assist you in getting into the police academy and networking with law enforcement.

How to Write a Captivating Personal Statement for a Police Application

Creating a cover letter can sound needlessly complicated as if you’re trying to customize your application for each job opportunity. Consequently, you may compose a personal statement.

Your history, values, and hobbies should be in a personal statement. Explain in your statement why you want to become a police officer and how attending the academy would help you achieve this goal.

Some guidelines for crafting an engaging personal statement are provided below.

Get your thoughts down on paper.
Take your time composing your essay.
Take care to pick and use the correct phrases.
Utilize your strengths as a writer to guide your work.
Begin with a solid introduction.
Do not make up anything; stick to the truth.
Check your statement for typos.

Police Application Personal Statement Example

The personal statement for a police application is meant to show how valuable a resource the applicant can be for the police force. Here’s an excellent example from INK .

As a law enforcement professional with years of experience, my devotion to public service and justice will be helpful as an officer. I’m proud of my local community’s impact in avoiding crime through education, awareness, and support.

I take great pride in communicating effectively with a wide array of individuals. From teaching kids to avoid danger to defusing heated disputes, I’ve seen how important it is for officers to be proactive and convincing.

My aptitude for problem-solving, resourcefulness, and persistence make me an ideal candidate for this position. I have consistently exemplified ethical conduct throughout my career by making prudent decisions to uphold justice and respect people’s rights. In addition, I have earned repute among colleagues due to my punctuality in attending to details and completing tasks promptly and accurately.

In conclusion, my professional experiences have prepared me for the demands of police work, and I look forward to serving my community.

The police application personal statement example above is a very stunning example of a well-written personal statement for a police application. Write with passion in your application and reassure the reader that you have the specific skills they need.

Police Application Personal Statement Example & Tips

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Write Personal Statement Articles

How to draft meaningful length of law school personal statement.

Are you confused on how to write a law school personal statement? One of the essential elements of your application…

Write Personal Statement

Effective History and International Relations Personal Statement to Try

Are you considering studying history and international relations? Or you may be curious about what a degree in this field…

Guide to Quality Global Management Personal Statement

Are you applying for a global management program and want to stand out from the crowd? A well-written personal statement…

How to Draft Better Examples of Personal Statements for Residency

Achieving a residency can be a massive accomplishment for any aspiring medical professional. To secure your spot in one of…

Tips for Drafting a Free Example of Personal History Statement

A personal history statement can be crucial to many applications, from university admissions to job search processes. This blog will…

Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Applying for a dietetic internship is a rigorous process and requires submitting a personal statement, which is an essential part…

Rank Success Blog

Free uk police promotion support to sergeant, inspector and beyond.

Interviews , Personal Statements

Personal Statements: Police Promotion Interview

When it comes to police promotion interviews, one of the biggest fears Sergeant and Inspector / Chief Inspector candidates have is drawing a blank. Having nothing to say, immersed in an awkward silence.

“Think of your personal statement as an ace up your sleeve.”

In Personal Statements For Promotion Applications , I discussed how UK police forces often require aspiring officers to submit a written application for promotion as part of their selection process. Compiling a 450-word personal statement might work well in writing, but is impractical to introduce to a promotion interview. However, the concept is still sound. Consequently, this blog looks at more condensed personal statements for your interview to support you in delivering a great performance at promotion board.

Reassuring the Board

Developing a verbal personal statement is a highly valuable exercise when preparing for your promotion board. The board is responsible for making a risk decision: Whether promoting you now is a good risk for the organisation. The board members simply want to know three things:

Can you do the job?
Will you do the job?
Do you act and speak like the leader/manager/supervisor they are seeking and which the force needs?

A prepared personal statement enables you to inject your enthusiasm and personality into the process. Police promotion is advertised as an objective process, but remember your board are human, so subjectivity comes into it. A honed, verbal personal statement delivers impact . Consider it your very own ‘elevator pitch’. It offers you an opportunity to reassure, influence and convince board members that promoting you is a good investment.

It is important on a number of levels. For starters, it can assist you in answering the following ‘Why You?’ questions:

Why do you want promotion?
Why should you be promoted?
Why would anyone choose to be led by you?

A Brutal Focus Point…

“Don’t tell me the Moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” – Anton Chekhov

Having developed your personal statement, there will be an opportunity to include it in interview (more on that later). Therefore, knowing what you are going to say beforehand is a massive confidence boost . Being quietly confident in your slick personal statement, ready to deliver, puts you one step ahead of the competition for police promotion .

Imagine walking into your promotion interview. The Chair of your interview panel welcomes you, puts you at ease, and then drops this brutal bombshell:

“We have decided to hold a very succinct process for promotion candidates this year. Please take a moment or two to gather your thoughts and then tell us in no more than FIFTY WORDS, why you should be promoted today?”

Condensing the case for promoting you into just 50 words is a great development exercise to include in your board preparation. It focuses the mind and puts you on right on the spot. Coincidentally, that’s exactly where you will find yourself in a promotion interview! It’s tried, tested and highly successful and something I encourage all aspiring promotion candidates to consider.

Personal Statements for Interview: Examples to Get You Started…

So, which 50 words would you choose? Getting started can be tough, so here are a couple of 50 word examples I prepared earlier to get you thinking and to give you an idea:

EXAMPLE 1: “I am motivated and enthusiastic, which infuses others. I’m a strong role model for colleagues and take care about developing my staff. I set and agree SMART objectives, encouraging ownership at all levels. I treat people as individuals, fostering an open and motivating environment. I recognise and acknowledge good work.”

EXAMPLE 2: “As a leader, I recognise I’m in a position of trust and responsibility. I lead by example. As supervisor, I set, communicate and reinforce standards, starting with my own punctuality and smart appearance. My personal values fit well with our force, including integrity, trust, fairness, respect, and public service.”

Try building the case for promoting you and reduce it to 50 words. Then when you are happy with it, rehearse it! Treat it as you would any important speech, or like an actor rehearsing lines. Doing this helps fix the content in your mind, aids your confidence, while ensuring effective and meaningful delivery. And as I discuss in my recent transformation podcast , you aren’t rehearsing to sound rehearsed; you will rehearse to the point that you are transformed into a confident candidate, who can authentically respond to any question.

“All the real work is done in rehearsal.” – Donald Pleasance

The principle is that you are equipped with a powerful statement you can introduce as part of your response to questions from panel members. You won’t be that individual who dries up or has nothing to say. On the contrary, you will be waiting for an opportunity to introduce your prepared personal statement.

Of course, you can use more than 50 words if you wish. If you want to go further, think how you might then expand the key points from your distilled statement to a more rounded, 5-minute response to the question: “Why should anyone be led by you?”

In short, you are selling yourself and your skills, and the board is buying. It is difficult to sell a product you don’t believe in, so practicing your personal statement delivery is time well spent.

“Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.” – Jim Rohn

“I’d Just Like to Add…”

Columbo police investigator detective, just one more thing personal statements for interview

You will get an opportunity to deliver your personal statement. You may even get more than one opportunity, but don’t worry about repeating yourself; you’ll never say it the same way twice!

So when will you get to deliver your personal statement? Good question! Promotion boards are behavioural interviews, which feature mainly open questions. A benefit of being asked open questions is that you can get across what you want to say. Fantastic opportunities usually arise at the end of your promotion board; that’s when the chair of the panel will normally say something similar to this:

“That brings the formal questions to an end. Before you go, is there anything you would like to add?”

Most unprepared candidates will take the opportunity to vamoose, pronto, with half a mind on that celebratory drink later for getting through it! But not you. You will take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, look the panel members in the eye, thank them for the opportunity, then leave them with a lasting favorable impression by delivering your prepared personal statement.

Kind Regards, Steve

Author’s Note: This post was first published in March 2019, as part of the additional free written content I provide for cops on the popular police news site, Police Hour. Minor updates have been made when incorporating the content here on my main blog site.

If you found this blog helpful, you can hit the ground running with your promotion preparation. Get your personal digital promotion toolkit , attend or download my Police Promotion Masterclass , or contact me to arrange personal coaching support . For more completely free, no-strings content, I have a collection of videos , eGuides, a podcast , plus more free blog content via my Police Hour guest articles .

Police officer application

The application form is split into two parts.

1 - Eligibility assessment.

2 - Main police officer application form.

Your responses should be completed by you and in your own words, this will allow us to fully assess your

personal motivations and expectations of the role, your preparation for the application, and your skills,

experiences, and values.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria you will not be able to access the application.

1. Eligibility criteria assessment

This form comprises of the following sections:

Eligibility screening questions

Driving licence
Right to work
Previous application
Previous police service

Employment monitoring questions

These are requested for the purposes of employment monitoring and

are not visible to recruitment and selection assessors.

Reasonable adjustment support

If you request reasonable adjustments your application will be submitted for

a support review prior to the application form to allow us to make sure that

you have the support required for your selection process.

Posting preferences

We will ask for three location preferences for posting if successful. We will try to accommodate

your location preference where possible.

2. Police officer application form

The application for police officer is divided into the following sections.

We will ask you to provide information to verify residency status, right to work and further

details in relation to eligibility.

Previous applications and previous service

This section contains questions to establish if you have any

previous applications and understand the application stage reached.

Questions on previous service as a police officer, special constable and/or military service

will also be asked.

Tattoos

We will ask you to provide a description of any tattoos you have including what they are and

where they are. You will be asked to upload images of the tattoos.

Business interests

We will ask you to provide details of any business interests you are involved with.

Main application questions

You will be asked to provide a personal statement to support your police officer application.

You should aim to provide between 400-500 words. We recommend providing as

much information as you can.

This will help the recruitment specialists to fully assess your application.

You will then be asked the following questions:

You are expected to provide a maximum of 200 words for each answer.

At the heart of Police Scotland is the organisation’s code of ethics and values of

integrity, fairness, respect, and a commitment to upholding human rights.

What values are important to you and how do you practice these values in your own life?

2. Please describe your own development journey and how this has helped shape you. This could

include educational achievements at school, college, university or other vocational training and work

experience.

3. A police officer must be in good physical and mental health .

Please describe what you do to maintain a good level of general fitness and health.

4. What preparation have you undertaken before making this application to ensure

that you know what to expect and to ensure that you are prepared for the role of a police officer.

5. Our mission is to uphold the law and keep the people, places, and communities of Scotland

safe from harm. Please describe what you would bring to Police Scotland, to support our mission.

6. Please provide any other information you wish to add in support of your application.

If you have made a previous application, you will be asked the following question.

Please explain what you have done to prepare for this new application.

Include details of how you have used the feedback previously provided.

You will be asked for details of current and previous employment over the last 5 years,

this will include dates employed and contact details for reference purposes.

Character references will be requested if you have no employment history.

Qualifications

You will be asked to provide details of any qualifications you have in this section.

Declaration

You will be asked to complete a declaration in relation to the information

you have provided.

Cookie policy
Cookie settings
Privacy policy
Logo Instagram
Logo Youtube
Logo Facebook
Logo Twitter

Policing News

Police Success Blog

Works co-operatively with others to get things done, willingly giving help and support to colleagues.
Is approachable, developing positive working relationships.
Explains things well, focusing on the key points and talking to people using language they understand.
Listens carefully and asks questions to clarify understanding, expressing own views positively and constructively.
Persuades people by stressing benefits of a particular approach, keeps them informed and manages their expectations.
Courteous, polite and considerate, shows empathy/compassion.
Deals with people as individuals and addresses their specific needs and concerns.
Treats people with respect and dignity, deals with them fairly, without prejudice of their background or circumstances.