Interview processes for Police staff/officers
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033775
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. Does your force currently require candidates to undergo an in-person, face-to-face interview as part of the recruitment process for new police officers, including PCSOs, and if so, when did your force return to this requirement (if it was ever suspended during the pandemic)?
2. If relevant for your force, approximately how many new officers and PCSOs were recruited by your force during the period when the requirement for an in-person, face-to-face interview was suspended, or alternatively – if that requirement has not been restored – how many new officers and PCSOs have been recruited by your force since it was first suspended.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
The MPS ceased recruitment for the PCSO role in 2019 – vacancies closed to applications on 28/11/2019.
Face-to-face (F2F) assessments began again in December 2020, so candidates who were recruited in 2020/2021 initially applied on the 2019 campaign. A new campaign opened on 01/9/2021.
| Year | Offers Given |
| 2019 | 176 |
| 2020 | 77 |
| 2021 | 79 |
| 2022 | 168 |
| 2023 | 272 |
| Total | 772 |
In effect, all candidates had at least one face to face assessment, although some had more than one, this assumes that some F2F assessments were virtual due to Covid.
PC Assessments became virtual as a result of Covid from 1 Jan 2021 and for DC’s, 1 November 2020.
| Overall | |||||
| Year | Offers Given | Day 1 Assessment (F2F) | DC Bolt on | Interactive Assessment | Day 2 |
| 2019 | 3,021 | 2,768 | 377 | 0 | 3,021 |
| 2020 | 2,826 | 2,671 | 348 | 0 | 2,826 |
| 2021 | 2,387 | 1,537 | 521 | 335 | 2,386 |
| 2022 | 3,318 | 177 | 1,328 | 1,645 | 3,318 |
| 2023 | 1,673 | 0 | 435 | 1,113 | 1,673 |
| Total | 13225 | 7153 | 3009 | 3093 | 13224 |
| Detective Constable | ||||
| Year | Offers Given | Day 1 Assessment (F2F) | DC Bolt on | Day 2 |
| 2019 | 378 | 324 | 377 | 378 |
| 2020 | 352 | 347 | 348 | 352 |
| 2021 | 526 | 220 | 521 | 526 |
| 2022 | 1,329 | 0 | 1,328 | 1,329 |
| 2023 | 437 | 0 | 435 | 437 |
| Total | 3022 | 900 | 3009 | 3022 |
| Police Constable | ||||
| Year | Offers Given | Day 1 Assessment (F2F) | Interactive Assessment | Day 2 |
| 2019 | 2,643 | 2,444 | 0 | 2,643 |
| 2020 | 2,474 | 2,324 | 0 | 2,474 |
| 2021 | 1,861 | 1,317 | 335 | 1,860 |
| 2022 | 1,989 | 168 | 1,645 | 1,989 |
| 2023 | 1,236 | 0 | 1,113 | 1,236 |
| Total | 10,203 | 6253 | 3,093 | 10,202 |