Courage: police CVF value examples and how to show it
Updated · 3 min read
In the police CVF, courage isn't mainly about physical bravery. It's about doing the right thing when it's difficult: challenging behaviour that isn't acceptable, speaking up when something's wrong, owning a decision that might be unpopular, and standing by what's right under pressure.
Courage is one of the three values at the heart of the College of Policing's Competency and Values Framework (CVF), updated in 2024. Unlike the six competencies, the values aren't usually asked about on their own: assessors look for them in every answer you give. Some forms and interviews do ask about them directly, though, so it pays to have a strong example ready. Our main CVF guide covers the whole framework.
What assessors look for
- You challenged something that wasn't right, even though it was uncomfortable.
- You spoke up when staying quiet would have been easier.
- You stood by a fair decision under pressure.
- You did it respectfully, and for the right reasons.
Showing it in every answer
You don't need a separate story to show courage. In any competency answer, a sentence about why you acted, or how you treated the people involved, can show it. Read each of your answers back and ask: would an assessor see courage here? If not, one honest sentence about your reasons often fixes it.
When it's asked about directly
- Tell us about a time you challenged someone's behaviour.
- Give an example of when you did the right thing even though it was unpopular.
- Describe a time you raised a concern that others had ignored.
An example answer
I coach an under-14s football team. During a match, one of our long-standing volunteer coaches started shouting insulting comments at a young referee, and some parents joined in. The referee was clearly shaken. It would have been easier to stay quiet, as the coach was popular and had been at the club far longer than me. But the referee was 16, and I knew the behaviour broke our club's code of conduct. I walked over and calmly asked the coach to step away from the touchline with me. I told him privately that the comments weren't acceptable, and that if they continued I would have to report them. He was angry, but he stopped. I then spoke to the parents nearby and reminded them of the code of conduct. After the match, I checked the referee was OK and thanked him. I reported what had happened to our welfare officer, as our rules required. The club reminded all coaches and parents of the code of conduct, and the coach apologised to the referee the following week.
- Challenges someone more senior and popular
- Does it calmly and privately, with respect
- Protects a young person: public service
- Follows the proper process afterwards
Use a real example from your own life. Values questions are often followed up at interview, and a borrowed story falls apart under follow-up questions.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an example about physical bravery instead of moral courage.
- Describing a confrontation that was aggressive rather than calm and respectful.
- Leaving out why it was the right thing to do.
Keep your best courage example saved alongside your competency answers. You'll be asked about it again at interview, and the same values come up at every promotion. The STAR method keeps it focused on what you did.
Frequently asked questions
- Does courage mean confronting people?
- Not necessarily. Raising a concern through the right channel, or admitting a mistake, can take just as much courage.
- Can I use an example where the other person was more senior?
- Yes. Challenging someone with more power or status is often a strong way to show courage, as long as you did it respectfully.