Who we are looking for
Great police officers come in all forms. The dynamic nature of the job means that we need people from all walks of life, with a range of skills.
The consent, support and cooperation of our fellow citizens lies at the heart of the identity and legitimacy of policing in Scotland, which is a diverse country.
To ensure that bond is as strong as possible, we must fully represent and reflect the communities we serve.
Inclusion is an operational necessity and morally the right thing to do.
We are committed to increasing the number of officers and staff from under-represented groups so that we truly reflect the communities we serve.
Police officers have a duty to lead and to uphold and inspire change that improves the lives of the public.
Racism or discrimination of any kind is completely unacceptable and has no place in society and no place in policing.
We are looking for people who will live and work by our values of integrity, fairness and respect and a commitment to upholding human rights. These are built in to the culture of Police Scotland at every level.
Major cities have very different needs, compared with rural and coastal communities. Our policing approach is built around this.
Police Scotland has launched a campaign to recruit police officers in rural communities. To find out more visit our rural recruitment page.
A career in policing could be the right move for you. You could be a school leaver, a recent graduate, have managed a business or just looking to change direction.
Do I have what it takes to be a Police officer?
You must be able to show that you have the personal qualities required to become an officer with Police Scotland:
- a realistic understanding of the role and duties
- knowledge of key areas in the application process such as the training programme, fitness and conduct standards
- high levels of personal integrity, honesty and conduct
- effective communication skills
- strong community and customer focus
- personal effectiveness
- emotional resilience
- problem solving skills
- respect and understanding of equality and diversity
- effective team working skills
- proven level of physical fitness
- strong desire for continual personal development.
- ability to study, learn and pass ongoing academic assessments, particularly throughout the two year probationary period.
If this sounds like you, you could soon be on your way to becoming one of our new recruits.
You are advised to read the Code of Ethics for Policing in Scotland.