It’s important that our employees provide the best possible service with the full confidence of the public they serve. That’s why every potential employee goes through a thorough vetting check as part of the application process.

To join us, you must have the permanent right to live and work in the UK without any restrictions.

As a minimum, all applicants must have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. This is required to ensure we can conduct adequate vetting checks and this applies equally to all applicants, regardless of nationality.

You must be a minimum of 18 years old to start employment with us. 

You will not be eligible to apply if you have ever received a prison sentence.

All other cautions, convictions and involvement with the police must be declared during the vetting process. This will not necessarily result in your application being withdrawn, as all applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

As part of your checks we will verify your financial position. Employees hold a privileged position and have access to a range of sensitive and valuable information. Potentially, this means employees are a heightened risk of being vulnerable to corruption. This means, applicants must to be free from the pressure of undischarged debts or liabilities and to be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.

Tattoos are considered on a case-by-case basis if:

• They are on your face
• Above the collar line on the front or side of your neck,
• Are large on the back of your neck and cannot be easily covered
• They could be considered in any way offensive, regardless of their location.

Tattoos are considered if:

• Visible tattoos are permissible on other areas of the body including hands, arms, legs, feet and on the back of the neck (providing the tattoo is discreet and behind the ear lobe).
• Discreet tattoos on the ear are also considered acceptable.
• Consideration will be given to tattoos on the face that were necessary following medical procedures or for cosmetic procedures e.g. eyebrows.

You are encouraged to contact the recruitment team if you are at all unsure about your tattoos and we will advise you wherever possible.

You can do this by emailing us.

Contact us

You have to be able to conduct your role and responsibilities impartially and effectively. This means if you are currently, or have even been, associated with any group, society or individuals that could reasonably represent a conflict of interest, then you will not be eligible to apply.

Due to the timescales of our recruitment process, applications from service personnel will only be accepted if you have 12 months or less to serve before being discharged. You will need to attach with your application confirmation of your projected date of discharge. (e.g. a letter from your Commanding officer).

For England and Wales: To be eligible for the Police Constable Entry Programme, you must have achieved Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths (e.g. GCSE Grade C/4 or above or an equivalent qualification), and meet one of the following criteria:

• Two A Levels (Grade A-E) or any qualification at Level 3 or above, or
• Policing experience: at least 12 months' relevant experience, including service as a Special Constable (independent patrol status), PCSO, or PDR rating 2 and above (or equivalent from Home Office and have l) provided you have not been out of policing service for more than five years. OR
• Public service experience: more than 24 months' relevant experience in one of the following areas:
  • Armed Forces / Military service
  • Emergency services (e.g. ambulance, fire)
• Operational railway experience: more than 24 months’ operational railway experience, including:
  • Revenue Protection Officer / Revenue Inspector
  • Railway Enforcement Officer
  • Rail Incident Response or Service Delivery Management roles

For applicants in Scotland: If you hold Maths and English Level 2 qualifications, as a minimum; then you do not have to complete the tests stated below; but you will need to provide the certificates for the Recruitment team to review.

• GCSE Grade C/Level 4 or above in Maths and English.
• Functional Skills Level 2 in Numeracy/Literacy
• Scottish Qualifications accepted: SCQF Level 5, Intermediate 2 at level 5 or Standard Grade (with credit) – achieved at the correct grading in Maths and English.

Copies of relevant qualification certificates must be enclosed via the above link. Qualifications in other subjects are not accepted, irrespective of the level of qualification held.

If you have English and Maths at a higher qualification level those will also be accepted. You will be required to provide certification to evidence attainment of those qualifications to the required standard via the above link. A full list of qualifications accepted are available in the Apprenticeship Standards for English and Maths guidance on GOV.UK. You should specifically refer to ‘Level 3 Apprenticeships’ which covers the requirements for Level 3 apprenticeships/diplomas and above.

You will need to declare any other employment or business interest you have and intend to maintain so that this can be reviewed to ensure no conflict of interest with the police.

You will not normally be eligible for appointment as a Police Officer or PCSO if you hold any office or employment for hire or gain, or if you carry on any business in addition to being a Police Officer or PCSO.

Our employees may encounter situations that can be stressful, traumatic and at times, physically confrontational. Our people can work long hours and cover rotating shifts, so the role can be physically and mentally demanding. Therefore, it is important our employees are in good health to be able to undertake their duties safely.

To ensure we can support our employees’ wellbeing, we’ll ask you to provide relevant details of your health and medical history in accordance with any questions we have to ask during the application process.

British Transport Police is committed to improving inclusivity, accessibility and employment opportunities throughout our organisation. We welcome applicants to share any specific needs or requirements with us throughout both the recruitment process and in the workplace. We will make reasonable adjustments where possible if this highlighted within your application.