A recruitment poster printed for the Royal Ulster Constabulary's (RUC). Traditionally, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and RUC did not advertise for recruits as they had waiting lists of potential applicants. By the 1950s diminishing terms and conditions and better job opportunities elsewhere had led to a decrease in applicants. Recruitment to other police forces and retirements had reduced the number of serving officers. The RUC needed to return the force to full strength and mounted its first recruitment campaign.

The first step in the recruitment process was a test of numeracy and literacy administered by the local sergeant. This normally took the form of written dictation and basic sums. If the sergeant was impressed with the candidate, he opened a recruitment file. Forms listing previous employment, addresses of parents, uncles, aunts and cousins were completed. The applicant’s family background and character were scrutinized and recruiting officers made appropriate enquiries as to the “character and loyalty” of the candidate. Recruits could come from Éire if they did not stand in the way of a Northern Ireland applicant and were of “suitable and of undoubted loyalty”. Candidates sat a written exam in maths, general knowledge, English and geography at county headquarters. If they passed the test, the applicant was reviewed by the medical officer and commandant of the training centre and interviewed by the inspector general.

Successful recruits reported to the training depot at Enniskillen. A typical training day began with drill and inspection, followed by classroom work and an evening of study and cleaning. Recruits were allowed one 32 hour period of leave per month. After six months training, if they met the required standards, the new recruit was sworn in as a constable and posted to a barracks.