Situational Judgement and Behavioural Competencies
This domain tests how you would behave in realistic police workplace situations and whether your choices reflect the behavioural competencies the role requires: integrity, respect, empathy, decision-making, teamwork, resilience and professionalism. Questions usually ask for the most and least effective response, or ask you to rank several responses.
Core rules
- Read for role, policy, risk and who is affected.
- Anchor choices in honesty, respect, impartiality, safety and confidentiality.
- Prefer responses that address the issue directly at the lowest appropriate level, use procedure, involve a supervisor when risk or policy requires it, protect vulnerable people and record accurately.
- Avoid ignoring, gossiping, retaliating, bending rules for convenience, over-escalating without need, or acting beyond your authority.
Worked example
A colleague repeatedly makes derogatory comments about members of the public in the locker room. You are a new constable. What is the most effective action? A Laugh it off. B Speak to them privately, ask them to stop and report it if it continues. C Report immediately to professional standards without speaking to them. D Post about it anonymously. Reasoning: B is most effective. It challenges the behaviour, addresses it at the lowest level and escalates if needed. A condones it. C may be premature if there is no immediate risk and no attempt to resolve it. D breaches confidentiality and is unprofessional. If asked for the least effective, D is the strongest candidate.
Traps
Choosing 'tell a supervisor' for every scenario; confusing 'most effective' with 'most punitive'; ignoring policy; selecting passive responses that avoid the issue.