Situational Judgement and Interpersonal Skills
What the section tests
Situational judgement items present realistic policing scenarios and ask you to rank or choose responses. They assess integrity, communication, empathy, teamwork, decision-making under pressure, and awareness of community impact. There is usually a best answer, not a perfect one, and the best answer balances legal duty, safety, respect, and proportionality.
How to reason
Read the scenario for the key facts: risk to life, whether a crime is in progress, who is vulnerable, and what the officer's role is. Prioritise immediate safety, then lawful procedure, then communication and follow-up. Consider how the action will look to the public and whether it builds trust. Where a colleague acts improperly, the right response is usually to address it through the proper channel rather than ignore it or escalate publicly.
Traps to watch
Popular wrong answers include doing nothing to avoid conflict, over-reacting with force where words would work, breaking procedure to get a quick result, covering for a colleague, or sharing confidential information. Another trap is choosing an answer that solves the immediate problem but damages the relationship with the community. Answers that blame the public or show contempt are never correct.
Rule of thumb
Use the priority ladder: safety first, then legality, then respect and communication, then resolution and record-keeping. Ask which option a fair-minded supervisor would defend.
Worked example
Two neighbours argue loudly over a boundary. The best response calms both, separates them, listens to each side, explains the civil nature of the dispute, and refers them to the proper process, while noting any breach of the peace. Shouting back or taking a side fails the test.