5. Who we are looking for

You must be 17 or older when applying to be a PCSO. Applicants who are 17 will progress through the recruitment process. However, your start date with the Met would need to be after your 18th birthday.

In your application form you must declare any other employment or business interests you intend to maintain, if offered the position as a PCSO. We will need to check that these are not in conflict with employment in the Met in any way.

If you do have any criminal convictions or cautions on record you can still apply. Eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence. We’re unable to confirm whether your convictions record will affect your application before you apply, but will determine this from the full and confidential information provided during the recruitment and selection process.

If you don’t tell us about any cautions, investigations or criminal convictions, your application could be refused simply because you weren’t open and up front. However, it might have been accepted if you were. If in any doubt, disclose the information.

If you are successful in the assessment process, you will need to go through security checks. If you have any of the following financial arrangements, you may need to take action in order to successfully pass these checks:

Debt management plans

You will need to provide proof that you have maintained regular payments over a number of months. This could include a letter from the debt management company, which shows the date the plan was entered into, and confirmation that all monthly payments have been met.

County Court Judgement (CCJ)

You should be aware that outstanding County Court Judgements will mean that you do not pass our security screening checks. If you are able, then you should settle the balance on your outstanding CCJ. A 'certificate of satisfaction' will be provided to you, which can be used to show that the balance has been cleared.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

Each case will be individually assessed. Candidates will be required to provide information to evidence the amount owed and that regular payments are being made.

Debt Relief Order (DRO) and bankruptcy

You will only be able to progress in the process once the debt has been paid and you have been clear or discharged for a period of three years.

Whilst our health and fitness requirements are not nearly as demanding as is often assumed, you will need to be able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job. Certain medical conditions may prevent this.

If you exercise regularly, there should be no issue with meeting the physical requirements in the fitness test. This means achieving level 5.4 on the ‘bleep test’.

Start preparing by watching our YouTube Fitness Test video.

Memberships of groups and organisations that contradict our values, standards and behaviour and our commitment to equality, are prohibited. The Met won’t accept applications from anyone who is, or has been, a member of groups and organisations including, but not limited to, the British National Party (BNP), National Front, Combat 18, or similar.

If you’re from outside the UK, it’s essential that you have indefinite leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK. Due to changes in legislation, members of the European Economic Area (EAA) are now required to have ILR or EU settled status.

There are no formal educational requirements to become a PCSO, although you’ll need to have a reasonable standard of English. Applicants should hold a GCSE Grade C (or equivalent) in English. Evidence of qualification will be required. For those who do not hold this qualification, a written test will be available.

Some of our PCSO roles in our Road Traffic Policing Command will need a full driving license.

You must have lived continuously in the UK for the three year period immediately prior to your application. If you’ve lived abroad due to serving in the British armed forces or on UK government service, you’re considered to have been resident in the UK.

If you apply for a role with us, we’ll ask you to declare information about your tattoos. When we meet, we’ll check that you comply with our tattoo policy.

This won’t be an intrusive check, but we will need to see your tattoos and talk to you about them as part of the recruitment process.

Some tattoos will stop you working for the Met, these include tattoos on:

• the sides and front of your neck above the collar line
• your face

You will be allowed to work for the Met if you have tattoos:

• on your hands
• on the back of your neck
• below your collar line
• on your ears
• behind your ears

If you have larger visible tattoos on your hands or back of the neck which cannot be easily covered then these may mean you are unable to join us.

Once you have joined, we will sometimes require you to cover up your tattoos for policing events such as ceremonial events.

Tattoos that are considered to be against the Met’s standards and values will mean you are unable to join us. That would include tattoos that are:

• discriminatory
• offensive
• violent
• rude
• lewd
• crude
• racist
• sexist
• sectarian
• homophobic
• intimidating
• political in nature

Everything we do is underpinned by our values. We are looking for those who share in these values to join us:

Integrity 

I will always try to do the right thing. I will be fair and consistent in everything I do, being mindful of the impact of my actions. I will actively challenge those whose behaviour falls below public and the Met's expectations.

Courage

I will show courage by making tough decisions when needed. I will always challenge racist, homophobic, misogynistic and any other discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour. I will show humility.

Accountable

I will strive to build trust with the public, colleagues, and partners, by being open, honest and taking ownership for what I have done and why. I will admit when I make mistakes, learn from them and improve.

Respect 

I will respect the rights of everyone I meet. I will listen to individual perspectives and needs. I will try my best to understand a diverse range of views and achieve the best possible outcomes for the public.

Empathy

I will care about communities and colleagues and try to understand their perspectives and experiences, at all times. I will be kind and listen and understand without judgement. I will take time to clarify and explain my decisions.