In order to increase the chances of recruiting the best candidates and the same time providing for a fair and open competition the following criteria are used for applicants to qualify:  

a)      Nationality: An applicant has to be a citizen of Lesotho

b)      Age: Applicants must be of ages not less than 18 years and not more than 30 years of age.  

c)      Education: All applicants must possess a minimum of a General Certificate of Education (GCE) with passes in at least four (4) subjects. One of the four subjects has to be English Lanquage.  

d)      Criminal Records: Applicants must not have any criminal record.  

e)      Fitness: All applicants must be physically, mentally and medically fit.  

f)        Equal opportunities: Applicants are considered irrespective of religion, race colour, sex and or any other form of discrimination.  

NB: All original documents must be presented  

SELECTION PROCESS  

This is a countrywide test the applicant takes at the time when she/he fills the application forms. It is marked and graded: To be eligible, one has to pass this test. The test is intended to test the ability of an applicant to meet the demands of being a police officer. The minimum pass mark on this test is 50% (percent).  

This board is responsible for marking pre-entry test. It comprises:  

• A senior officer from LMPS
• A representative from Education office
• A representative from The Ministry of Justice
• A secretary (from the Police District).  

After taking the pre – entry test, passed applicants are issued with a form to be completed by a government medial practitioner after examining the same for mental and other medical fitness for Police Service (please see Annex B). The duly filled medical forms are presented before the Interview Board on interview day. Such a doctor is expected by LMPS not to recommend any applicant, found HIV/AIDS positive, as fit to undergo recruit training without necessarily disclosing his/her HIV/AIDS status. It isenough that the doctor does not find applicant fit and proper to undergo police training.  

 a)      The interview is arranged for by the Interview Board. It also sets an itinerary for interviews around all districts of Lesotho . The interview questions are such as may be approved by the Commissioner on advice by the Commissioner’s Advisory Board.  

b)  There is a Selection Board which is responsible for the final selection of successful candidates to join the recruit training. 

c)      Applicants who satisfy the recruitment criteria and pass through the selection process are eligible to join the LMPS. Pass mark is 50% minimum.

VETTING: All selected persons are subjected to vetting by either one or all the following:  

·        Lesotho Mounted Police Services – Criminal Intelligence

·        The National Security Services

·        The Military Intelligence

      The list of all qualified candidates will then be compiled.

RECRUIT COURSE  

All Recruits undergo a Recruit Course at the Police Training College (PTC) without any exception. The content of the course is determined by the office of commissioner of police having considered the advice of the Training Advisory Board set up under section 70 of the police service act 1998. This course is aimed at training the Recruits in the basics of being a police officer of a high standard. Those who fail this course leave the LMPS.  

Distribution of recruits after the completion of the course is guided to a large extent by both the case load and population of a particular district.

RECRUITMENT OF OFFICER CADETS

From time to time, where need arises there are recruitment from civil life, persons of special abilities and qualifications. These persons are university graduates with a minimum qualification of a degree. However, on exceptional cases the Commissioner of Police may select within the LMPS officers with outstanding potential to join an intake of officer cadets are officers recruited for purposes of being trained to be subordinates or senior officers immediately after their training.  

The object of this kind of recruitment is mainly to meet, at times a suddenly high demand for the increase of the cadre of surbodinate or senior officer.  

 All the criteria set out in "recruitment criteria" above will apply except for:  

   i.      Qualification – Minimum qualification shall be a University degree or other equivalent qualification.  

a)      Appointment of Officer Cadets is made in terms of Section 8 of Police Service Act.  

b)      Having satisfied the requirements above, Office Cadets are attested.  

a)      At the completion of the above processes, successful applicants aregin cadets officer course. This course takes thirteen months. The course is intensive training focused on the identified aspects necessary to produce well developed officers – to – be of the best quality and integrity.  

b)      The content of the Cadet Officers course is determined by the office of Commissioner of Police having considered advise of the Training Advisory Board set up under section 70 of the Police Service Act 1998.  

The numbers of people to be recruited as Officer Cadets are invariably determined by the L.M.P.S requirements for subordinate and senior officers and availability of funds.