15 Tough Police Officer Interview Questions and Answers

The police officer interview is known to be tough. Only those with the correct values, integrity, skills, and qualities that match the core competencies will pass. 

In this article, we will look at the 15 toughest police interview questions that are guaranteed to come up in your interview! 

These questions are ideal for the UK police officer final or in-force interview, the oral police officer interview for USA state and federal police, as well as for other worldwide police forces.

Why do you want to become a police officer answer:

First and foremost, I believe the personality that I have, the values that I stick to, and also the skills and qualities that I have built up over the years are a match for the police officer job description. I am somebody who will always act with high degrees of integrity. I can be trusted to represent the police service in a positive manner, and I will always build positive relationships with the community because I believe, genuinely, that the only way the police service will be able to provide a high level of service that the public deserves is by building trust with them. And I believe I have the skills and the experience to do that. Another reason why I would like to become a police officer is the fact that the role presents numerous challenges on a day-to-day basis. I want to work in a position where no two days are the same, and I have to use my experience and different skills to adapt to various challenges as they are presented. And I will find that exciting. I will also find the opportunity to improve and develop one that is very appealing. And finally, I want the responsibility that comes with the position of a police officer. I know there comes a considerable amount of responsibility. I am looking for long term employment with the same employer, and I believe the role of a police officer is the one that suits my attributes and my long-term career ambitions.

Why do you want to join this police service answer:

I want to work for this police service for a variety of different reasons. Over the years, I have observed you from afar, and I’ve always been really impressed with how you conduct yourselves and also the fact that you always come across in a transparent manner and you are looking to educate the public. Whenever I’ve come across police officers in the local community, they have always been welcoming, and they have always communicated in a positive manner. It’s clear that they’re always trying to build up positive relationships with the community and I want to work within that type of organisation. The other reason I want to work for this police service is because you are always looking to improve, develop and adapt positively to the risks that are presented within the local area. Within this area, there is a diverse range of risks, including transportation risks because of the transportation networks and roads in the area and also the commercial property risks that are present in the community. So no two days are ever going to be the same and this means that I will always have to be at my best and work to very high standards as well as always improving myself. So those are the reasons why I would like to work for this police service.

Tell me about a time when you acted with integrity answer:

I believe I always act with the highest standards of integrity, and one situation comes to mind recently where I was discussing a project brief with other team members at work. Now, we had a duty to deliver a certain project specification for a client within a really tight deadline. Now, we were going to be up against the clock, and we had to work really hard. Now, a couple of team members suggested that we should cut corners by using some substandard product parts to get the project finished on time. As soon as they made that suggestion, I put my hand up, and I said, “no way, I’m not prepared to be a part of a team who is not being truthful towards the client and using substandard product parts.” and I explained to them that the client had paid for a certain service and we had a duty to deliver exactly what they paid for. I also said that if the client found out this would be bad for our organisation, it would reflect badly. They agreed that it was the right thing to do. So, I managed to change their viewpoint about tackling projects in the right way. We then went ahead and delivered the project. We had to work additional hours on a couple of days during the week to get it all finished, but I was proud of the fact that I stood by my position. I insisted that we all act with high degrees of integrity and do the project to the standard that was paid for by the client.

To successfully prepare for the police officer interview, you must prepare responses to the below questions:

1. Why do you want to become a Police Officer?
2. Why do you want to join this police service?
3. Tell me about a time when you’ve acted with integrity.
4. How would your approach change when engaging with a suspect who is
   male, compared to a suspect who is female? 
5. Why do you believe it is important to promote diversity within the police
   force?
6.  What values do you believe are core to protecting the community?
7. How will you manage a mixture of day and night shifts?
8. You are working on high-profile case, and a journalist has obtained your
   private phone number. He contacts you asking to anonymously confirm a
   rumour that has been circulating. How do you respond?
9. What experience do you have of working in the community?
10. How would you deal with a difficult member of the public?
11. What are the main priorities of the police service?
12. Would you treat a teenage boy and an elderly man differently if they had
    both been assaulted? 
13. What would you do if you heard your colleague being racially abusive to
    someone?
14. Tell me about a time when you had to be tactful to resolve a situation?
15. Four months ago, you agreed to attend your childhood friends’ wedding. When
    your rota is released you are scheduled to work the day of the wedding.
    What do you do?

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