Instant Interview
FreeIntermediate6 min · 12 questions

UK Police Officer Interview Questions

Police recruitment uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) with six competencies and three core values. These scenarios reflect the situational judgement and interview questions you will face.

CVF CompetenciesSituational JudgementValuesDecision Making
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Question 1
At a road collision the at-fault driver shouts at you and your frustration rises. How do you show "We are emotionally aware"?

Interview preparation guide

UK Police Officer interview questions: what to prepare

The quiz above is a quick way to check your knowledge. Before the interview, prepare a specific example for each of these themes: CVF Competencies, Situational Judgement, Values, Decision Making. Practise saying your answer aloud, then refine the detail, evidence and outcome rather than memorising a script.

Five questions worth preparing now

  1. Question 1 · CVF Competencies

    At a road collision the at-fault driver shouts at you and your frustration rises. How do you show "We are emotionally aware"?

    This competency requires managing your own emotions while staying sensitive to others. The panel wants self-awareness, emotional regulation, and calm under pressure. Walking away entirely or escalating with warnings shows neither.

  2. Question 2 · CVF Competencies

    In probation you spot an error in a witness statement that only you have noticed. How do you show "We take ownership"?

    Ownership means accepting responsibility and being accountable. Integrity in evidence handling is fundamental, so statement errors must be disclosed regardless of case severity. Concealing even a minor error is a conduct matter.

  3. Question 3 · Values

    A fellow officer makes derogatory comments about a member of the public's ethnicity after they leave. What does "Courage" require?

    The Courage value requires challenging inappropriate behaviour regardless of who heard it. Discriminatory language breaches the Code of Ethics. The panel expects you to address it directly and report it if needed, not wait for a pattern.

  4. Question 4 · Values

    At a domestic incident the victim is frightened, reluctant to give a statement, and minimising. How do you show "Respect and empathy"?

    Respect and empathy means treating people with dignity and understanding their perspective. Victim reluctance is a recognised sign of coercive control. The panel wants safety, structured DASH risk assessment, and signposting to specialist support.

  5. Question 5 · CVF Competencies

    What is the correct structure of the Competency and Values Framework (CVF)?

    The CVF has six competencies and three values (Courage, Respect and empathy, Public service). Each competency has three levels aligned to role complexity, and it is used throughout an officer's career, not just at recruitment.

A simple preparation checklist

  • Choose relevant, truthful examples and explain the outcome and learning. Use numbers only when you have them.
  • Use STAR for experience questions: keep the situation brief and spend most of the answer on what you did.
  • Say each answer out loud, then remove jargon, filler and unnecessary background detail.
  • Prepare one thoughtful question about the role, team or priorities for the end of the interview.

Turn knowledge into practice

Use the quiz to identify the theme you need to improve, then rehearse it as a spoken answer and get feedback on your structure, pace and specificity.

Start behavioural interview practiceCheck a STAR answer