Entry Requirements for Authorised Firearms Officers

Age

To apply for CNC, you must be 18 years of age or over at the time of applying and 18 years and 6 months before commencing employment. There is no upper age limit.

Nationality

In order to successfully apply to become a police officer in the CNC you must achieve both police and National Security Vetting. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being withdrawn.

To meet our vetting requirements there is an expectation that applicants would have been resident in the UK for a period of up to 10 years, depending on the vetting level required. If this is not the case it is does not preclude an application to the CNC, as every case will be assessed on its own merits. However, additional robust checks of value will need to be carried out to enable a vetting decision to be made. These additional checks will be dependent upon the county or countries of residence and could include:

• Obtaining a Police Certificate from the country/countries
• Full history of oversea travel and dates
• Checkable employment history, including references
• Certificate of good conduct/personal reference from person/persons of good standing

Please note that even after completion of these additional checks there is no guarantee vetting will be achieved and therefore employment with the CNC would not be possible. 

If you think you do not meet our residency requirements or have concerns, please email the recruitment team in the first instance, jobs@cnc.police.uk

 

Criminal record

The public is entitled to a police service that recruits officers with proven integrity. So ideally, you won’t have a criminal record. However, some minor offences won’t exclude you from joining us. But it’s vital that, no matter how small the offence, you’re completely honest in your application. Our application and vetting forms also ask you to state any interaction you have had with the police, even as a witness or if you were spoken to in the street.

You’ll need to let us know all convictions, formal police cautions and any bind-overs imposed by any court. This should also include any traffic offences such as speeding, drink-driving and fixed penalties for motoring or disorder offences. You may have been advised that the offence imposed upon you was considered NFA (No Further Action). Please ensure you disclose this on your application. Juvenile convictions will also need to be noted. 

Behavioural standards

As Police Officers the public expect us to display the highest standards, values and professional qualities at all times. Throughout the recruitment process communication and conduct is continually assessed in line with the CNC values and Code of Ethics principles and standards of behaviour.

Tattoos & body piercings

Our officers interact with members of the public and our stakeholders and it is vital that our officers portray an approachable and professional image at all times, which is why we need to ensure that any tattoos will not cause offence or be viewed as offensive or threatening.

The CNC policy is that tattoos visible on the face, the throat or front of neck may cause unease with members of the public and may not be compatible with the high standards expected of a police officer. All tattoos must be declared on application and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with visible tattoos on the face, throat or the front of neck carefully considered. All tattoos should be covered whilst on duty, where possible.

If you have any other visible tattoos (such as on forearms) then you must provide details including size, nature and location of the tattoo(s) along with supporting photos as part of your application.

 

Visible stretched body piercings are not permitted as they are considered to be incompatible with the professional image that the CNC wants to portray.

Business interests

Some business interests may prevent you from joining the CNC. This also includes any of your family’s business interests.

Please get in contact with the recruitment team on 0330 3135 401 if:

• You run any other business or are employed or hired in any other business
• Any of your relatives, including spouse, owns a shop
• Your spouse or any other relative holds a licence relating to liquor, refreshment houses, betting/gaming, or a place of entertainment

Financial status

Our work is of national importance. As a result, our officers and some of our staff have access to privileged information that could potentially leave them vulnerable to corruption. Which is why it’s vital that you’re under no pressure from unpaid debts and liabilities when you apply. As part of this, you’ll have to show that you can manage your loans and debts sensibly.

We realise that most people have some sort of debts, such as a mortgage, a student loan or credit card payments. If your debts are manageable and within your means, they won’t prevent your appointment with us.

Driving licence

All officers are required to drive as part of their role, therefore, on application you will need to hold a full manual UK or European driving licence with no more than six points.

Physical fitness

During the recruitment process, we’ll assess your fitness level to ensure you meet the minimum standard of 7.6 MSFT (Multi Stage Fitness Test – Bleep Test) required to fulfil your roles. It’s incredibly important, which is why we’ll assess your fitness every year you’re with us.

Police officers across the country are covered by the Equality Act 2010. So if you do have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

If you want more information about our fitness standards, and how to obtain health, wellbeing and fitness advice, please visit our application process page.

Medical health

Being a police officer with the CNC is different to policing within a Home Office force or Police Scotland. All of our officers are highly trained Authorised Firearms Officers. They are required to wear and carry relatively heavy personal protective equipment and kit. They also work on Licenced Nuclear Sites, which may expose them to a variety of hazards, including radioactive material, and must meet the requisite hearing and eyesight standards to enable them to safely carry out the role.

Because of the unique nature of the Authorised Firearms Officer role at CNC, you’ll need to achieve different levels of medical and physical fitness standards to our Home Office and Police Scotland colleagues. It is very important that you familiarise yourself with these standards prior to applying, to be able to consider whether you may have any condition which may prevent you from joining the CNC in the role of an Authorised Firearms Officer.

The CNC Authorised Firearms Officer Pre-employment Medical Guidance is available to read here.

For more information, visit our application process page.

Other applications

You can have more than one application open with a number of forces, up to the point of sitting an assessment centre.  At that stage you will need to choose which force you wish to continue with and withdraw from other applications. 

Rejoiners

The CNC welcomes applications from individuals who are no longer serving police officers but have previous relevant police service. Whilst we do not have reciprocal agreements with Home Office, Police Scotland, Police Service of Northern Ireland, British Transport Police or Ministry of Defence Police, we may take previous relevant service into account for calculating pay and annual leave entitlement.

Transferees
Applications from current serving police officers are welcomed by the CNC. We also welcome applications from those who have left policing in the last 12 months, as long as they completed their two year probation period before they left.

Dependent on which force you join us from, for both re-joiners and transferees, and your skillset, you will be required to undertake some form of residential training ranging from 4 weeks to 19 weeks.

For further information, please contact a member of the recruitment team on 0330 3135 401 who will be able to advise you.

 

Membership of organisations

We won't accept applications from anyone who is, or has been, a member of the BNP or similar organisations.

Qualifications

To enrol on our Level Four Non Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship, you'll ideally already have attained GCSE level Maths and English at Grade C/4 or above (or the level 2 equivalent qualification), and be able to provide evidence of this.

You can visit the GOV.UK website to get a replacement certificate if it's needed. If you are charged for obtaining a certificate, please ensure you obtain and keep a receipt so that you can be reimbursed by the CNC if you are successful through the recruitment process.

If you don't have these qualifications, or you cannot provide the evidence, then you will be required to attain them as part of your apprenticeship. Our expert training team will support you to do this & your coursework, exams, certificates and any materials required will be fully funded.