AI Guidance for Applicants
A Guide To Using AI In Your Thames Valley Police Application
Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT, CoPilot, Claude and others, are powerful tools that can quickly generate and review text or images in ways that mimic humans.
AI can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
The guidance on this page focuses on acceptable use of AI, and also suggests ways that it may be able to support your application.
Can I use AI in my job application?
Can I use AI when applying for a job with Thames Valley Police?
Yes. AI can be helpful when preparing your application.
However, AI should only be used to support your application and preparation – not replace your own thinking or judgement.
We want to see the real you, and your application should show us an authentic snapshot of who you are, and why you are suitable for the role.
What does TVP look for in an application?
What does Thames Valley Police want to see in your application?
We want to see evidence of how you align with our core values:
- We treat everyone with fairness and respect
- We are courageous and do the right thing
- We strive to improve every day
- We are proud to be Thames Valley Police
Strong applications will highlight;
- how your skills and experience match with the role you are applying to
- what motivates you to perform at your best
- what you have achieved, and how you did it
What is the CARL method?
Using the CARL method
The CARL method can help you to structure your responses
- Context – Describe the task or situation you dealt with
- Action – Explain what you did
- Results – Tell us what happened as a result of your actions
- Learning – Reflect on what you learned and how it has helped you develop
How can AI help my application?
How AI can help you prepare for your Thames Valley Police application
AI can be useful for:
Improving structure and clarity
- Organising your ideas
- Making responses easier to understand
- Refining the structure of your answer
Checking your application
- Reviewing your spelling and grammar
- identifying gaps against the job description
- Checking whether you have fully answered a question
Understanding the role
- Highlighting key skills in the job description
- Helping connect your own experience to the role requirements
- Suggesting relevant examples to consider in your responses
Interview preparation
- Generating mock interview questions
- Helping you practice competency-based answers
- Providing communication and presentation advice
When to be cautious of AI
When should you be cautious using AI
Be aware that AI tools do not always provide accurate information.
- Verify information about Thames Valley Police from official sources
- Review generated content for accuracy
Remember, you are responsible for everything included in your application.
When not to use AI
When AI should not be used in your application
AI must not be used to:
- invent experiences, qualifications, or achievements
- exaggerate your skills or abilities
- create false or misleading information
- generate generic responses that do not reflect your real experience
- provide answers during live online assessments or interviews
Applications that do not accurately represent a candidate’s experience may not progress through the recruitment process.
Online interviews and assessments
Thames Valley Police is committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and authentic recruitment process for all candidates. During live online interviews and assessments, candidates must answer questions independently using their own knowledge, experience, and judgement.
The use of AI tools, automated response technology, external coaching software, or even another person to provide answers during a live interview or assessment is not permitted. Where there is a evidence that a candidate has gained an unfair advantage through unauthorised assistance, Thames Valley Police reserves the right to remove the candidate from the recruitment process.
These requirements support the policing principles of honesty, integrity, accountability, and fairness – helping to ensure all candidates are assessed on equal terms.
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