Link: https://youtu.be/zz-Pudo44aA  

Mastering Police Role Plays with the CUDSAR Method: Your Secret Weapon for Assessment Success

How to Excel in the Metropolitan Police, PSNI, and Other Force Role Play Assessments

If you've recently discovered that your police recruitment process includes role plays (or "interactive exercises" as the Metropolitan Police calls them), you might be feeling a mix of anxiety and uncertainty. You're not alone.

Role plays have become an increasingly common assessment tool across UK forces—including the Metropolitan Police, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Dyfed-Powys Police, and North Yorkshire Police (who call them "micro exercises")—and for good reason. They allow assessors to see how you'll actually behave when faced with challenging situations, rather than just how well you can describe what you'd do in an interview.

But here's the good news: there's a structured approach that has helped thousands of candidates ace these assessments with confidence and consistency.

Introducing CUDSAR: The Time-Tested Framework for Role Play Success

CUDSAR stands for:

• Confront

• Understand

• Define and Summarise

• Seek Solutions

• Assess 

• Result

This framework, which originated in public order policing in the 1990s, provides a clear script for handling any role play scenario you might face—from neighbourhood disputes to interactions with vulnerable people. Better yet, it's a method you'll continue using throughout your policing career when dealing with conflict or complaints.

Let's break down each component so you can apply this powerful approach to your upcoming assessment.

Confront: Setting the Stage for Success

Despite its name, this stage isn't about confrontation—it's about establishing control of the interaction from the outset with a confident, professional introduction.

When the role play begins (regardless of how the role player initially addresses you), start with a structured introduction:

"Good morning, my name is Constable [Your Name] from [Station] in [Force]. I'm here today because we've received a call regarding [brief mention of the scenario]. I only know a little about what's happened, so I'd like to ask you some questions to get more detail. Once I understand the situation, I'll check my understanding with you, and then we can work together to find solutions that will address this issue now and prevent it happening again. How does that sound to you?"

This accomplishes several crucial objectives:

• Establishes your authority

• Creates a roadmap for the conversation

• Demonstrates professionalism

• Builds initial rapport

The role player may respond with something challenging like "It's about time you showed up!" or "Whatever you think is best." Regardless of their response, simply acknowledge it briefly and move to the next phase.

Understand: Asking the Right Questions

This critical phase is where you gather the information needed to fully comprehend the situation. Without thorough understanding, any solutions you propose later will likely miss the mark.

Structure your questioning using the 5W+H approach (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) in a simple-to-complex progression. Enhance these questions with "softeners" to build rapport:

"I'm just wondering if you could start by explaining to me exactly what happened when the incident took place?"

Key techniques for this phase include:

• Using TED-PIE questioning techniques (Tell, Explain, Describe, plus additional techniques taught in our courses)

• Reflecting back vague statements for clarification

• Probing ambiguous comments with follow-up questions

• Demonstrating active listening throughout

Remember: role players intentionally include vague statements as "hooks" to see if you'll probe further. When they mention "antisocial behaviour," don't assume you know what they mean—ask them to explain exactly what they're experiencing.

To Define and Summarise: Proving You've Listened

After gathering information, demonstrate your understanding by summarising what you've heard in a structured way. This shows the role player (and assessors) that you've listened attentively and processed the information accurately.

End your summary with an open question: "So what have I missed from everything you've told me?"

This accomplishes two things:

1. It shows you're thorough and don't assume you've captured everything

2. It gives the role player an opportunity to add any final details before moving to solutions

Seek Solutions: Demonstrating Problem-Solving Skills

When you ask the role player what solution they'd like to see, they'll typically respond with something like "I thought you'd have ideas" or "That's why I called you." This is deliberate—they want to see your problem-solving approach.

Structure your solutions using the EPA framework:

1. Enforcement: What immediate action can be taken to address the current situation?

2. Prevention: What can be done to prevent this from happening again?

3. Advocacy: How can you support the individual and community to become stronger and more resilient?

This approach shows you're thinking beyond the immediate problem to longer-term solutions and community empowerment.

For more complex situations, consider the expanded TPACK framework:

• Trust-building: How will you build/restore trust?

• Prevention: What preventative measures can be implemented?

• Advocacy: How will you advocate for those involved?

• Communication: How will you communicate with the wider community and partners?

By framing your solutions with these structured approaches, you'll naturally hit multiple competencies without having to memorise the Competency and Values Framework.

Evaluate and Result: Closing with Confidence

The final stages of CUTSER focus on how you'll assess progress and what the ultimate outcome will be.

For assessment, establish a clear follow-up plan: "Once we've started implementing these solutions, I'd like to come back and visit you in a week to update you on our progress and, most importantly, get your feedback on how you feel we're doing."

For the result, paint a picture of success: "I'm confident that once we've implemented these solutions, we'll achieve [describe what success looks like for this specific scenario], which is what you've told me you want to see happen."

This closure demonstrates accountability, commitment to follow-through, and focus on outcomes that matter to the community member.

Why CUDSAR Works Every Time

The beauty of the CUDSAR approach is its versatility. Whether you're dealing with a neighbourhood dispute for the Metropolitan Police role play or a vulnerable person scenario for PSNI, the framework remains consistent while allowing you to adapt the content to the specific situation.

By following this structured method, you:

• Never find yourself wondering what to say next

• Naturally demonstrate multiple competencies

• Appear confident and professional throughout

• Show a systematic approach to problem-solving

Our clients consistently score at the highest levels in role play assessments across all forces, with many assessors commenting on their structured, professional approach.

Ready to Master Your Role Play Assessment?

While this overview gives you the CUTSER framework, mastering role plays requires practice and feedback. Many candidates believe they're prepared until they face a challenging role player who tests their composure and structure.

Our comprehensive support includes:

• Detailed guidance on questioning techniques and solution frameworks

• Practice role plays with realistic scenarios

• One-to-one coaching via Zoom with experienced role players

• A pass guarantee—if you do the work and don't pass, we offer a full refund

With over 13,000 serving officers who joined the police with our support, and 26 years of coaching experience behind us, our methods are proven to work.

Click here to learn more about our courses, join our practice sessions, and discover why thousands of successful candidates credit their role play success to the CUDSAR method.

Don't just hope to pass your role play assessment—ensure your success with a structured approach that works every time.