100+ Free NPPF Step 2 Inspector Practice Questions

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Sample NPPF Step 2 Inspector Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NPPF Step 2 Inspector exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under English criminal law, which statement best describes actus reus?

A.The external conduct element of an offence, which may include an act, omission or state of affairs

B.The defendant's motive for committing the offence

C.Only the defendant's intention or recklessness

D.A civil claim for damages

Explanation: Actus reus is the external (conduct) element of a crime. Depending on the offence definition it may be a positive act, a culpable omission where a duty exists, or a prohibited state of affairs. Mens rea is the fault/mental element and is distinct.

2When can an omission form the actus reus of a criminal offence in English law?

A.Never — only positive acts can be criminal

B.Only where the defendant owed a recognised duty to act and failed to do so

C.Whenever the defendant feels morally obliged to help

D.Only for road traffic offences

Explanation: English criminal law generally requires a positive act, but omissions can found liability where a legal duty to act exists (for example contractual, parental, or assumed-care duties) and the failure to act causes the prohibited result.

3In Cunningham recklessness, what must the prosecution prove about the defendant's state of mind?

A.That a reasonable person would have foreseen the risk, regardless of what the defendant foresaw

B.That the defendant intended the exact consequence that occurred

C.That the defendant foresaw the risk of the prohibited consequence and went on to take it unjustifiably

D.That the defendant was negligent by civil standards only

Explanation: Subjective (Cunningham) recklessness requires that the defendant actually foresaw the relevant risk and unjustifiably took it. It is not enough that a reasonable person would have foreseen the risk if the defendant did not.

4What is the mental element traditionally required for murder in English law?

A.Negligence as to causing death

B.Recklessness as to any bodily harm

C.Strict liability with no mental element

D.Malice aforethought, meaning an intention to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm

Explanation: Murder requires malice aforethought: an intention to kill or an intention to cause grievous bodily harm. Recklessness as to death or lesser harm is insufficient for murder (though it may support manslaughter).

5Which defence may reduce murder to voluntary manslaughter where the defendant lost self-control?

A.Loss of control under ss.54–55 Coroners and Justice Act 2009

B.Diminished responsibility under the Homicide Act 1957 as amended

C.Insanity under the M'Naghten rules

D.Automatism

Explanation: Loss of control (Coroners and Justice Act 2009 ss.54–55) is a partial defence that, if successful, reduces murder to voluntary manslaughter. Diminished responsibility is a separate partial defence based on abnormality of mental functioning.

6For the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) under s.47 Offences Against the Person Act 1861, what level of harm is typically required?

A.Only psychiatric injury with no physical injury ever accepted

B.Any hurt or injury calculated to interfere with the health or comfort of the victim that is more than transient or trifling

C.Only injuries requiring hospital admission

D.Only broken bones or permanent disfigurement

Explanation: ABH covers hurt or injury interfering with health or comfort that is more than transient or trifling. It can include bruises, cuts, and recognised psychiatric injury, but does not require hospitalisation or permanent injury.

7Under s.18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding/GBH with intent), which mental element must be proved?

A.Recklessness as to some harm

B.Negligence only

C.An intention to cause grievous bodily harm (or to resist/prevent lawful apprehension where the section so provides)

D.Strict liability

Explanation: Section 18 is the intentional form of wounding/GBH. The prosecution must prove the specific intent required by the section (commonly intent to cause GBH), which is a higher fault element than the recklessness sufficient for s.20.

8The offence of strangulation or suffocation under s.75A Serious Crime Act 2015 (as inserted) is complete when the defendant intentionally:

A.Only causes lasting injury requiring medical treatment

B.Threatens to strangle but never applies pressure

C.Recklessly bumps into someone in a crowd

D.Strangles, suffocates or asphyxiates another person, whether or not lasting injury results

Explanation: The statutory strangulation/suffocation offence focuses on intentional strangling, suffocating or asphyxiating another. It does not require proof of lasting injury — the non-fatal OAPA offences remain available where injury results.

9Which statement correctly states an element of theft under s.1 Theft Act 1968?

A.A person is guilty of theft if they dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it

B.Theft requires the use of force or the threat of force

C.Theft is limited to taking cash and does not cover other property

D.Theft requires the victim to be present when property is taken

Explanation: Theft under s.1 Theft Act 1968 is dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with intention of permanently depriving the other of it. Force is an element of robbery, not theft.

10Burglary under s.9(1)(a) Theft Act 1968 is committed when a person:

A.Steals from a vehicle parked on a driveway without entering a building

B.Enters a building or part of a building as a trespasser with intent to steal, inflict GBH, or do unlawful damage

C.Finds lost property in the street and keeps it

D.Fails to pay a restaurant bill

Explanation: Section 9(1)(a) burglary is trespassory entry of a building (or part) with intent to steal, inflict GBH, or cause unlawful damage. Section 9(1)(b) covers entering as a trespasser and then stealing/attempting to steal or inflicting/attempting to inflict GBH.

About the NPPF Step 2 Inspector Exam

The NPPF Step 2 inspectors’ legal examination is the national legal-knowledge gate for substantive sergeants seeking eligibility for promotion to inspector in England and Wales. It tests application of criminal law, PACE procedure and general police duties at inspector level against Blackstone’s Police Manuals, with a higher pass mark than the sergeants’ paper.

Assessment

Single three-hour online MCQ paper of 150 questions. After the sitting, 10 poorest-performing items are removed; candidates are scored on 140. Content is drawn only from the endorsed Blackstone’s Police Manuals (crime; evidence and procedure; general police duties) for that year. Inspector syllabus emphasis is wider/supervisory than the sergeants’ paper.

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

65% (91/140 scored). Exceptional: 85%+. Low-band fail: below 35%. Panel may adjust the cut in exceptional circumstances.

Exam Fee

No published standalone College candidate fee; register via force AIMS. Confirm any local force admin arrangements with your examinations officer. (College of Policing)

NPPF Step 2 Inspector Exam Content Outline

≈34%

Crime

Offences and principles from Blackstone’s Volume 1 at inspector breadth — homicide, non-fatal offences, property crime, fraud, drugs, sexual offences, firearms and defences.

≈33%

Evidence and Procedure

PACE detention, interviews, identification, bail, disclosure, confessions/exclusion, and instituting proceedings from Blackstone’s Volume 2.

≈33%

General Police Duties

Arrest, stop/search, entry/search, public order, domestic abuse, roads, protest, mental health, standards and related Volume 3 duties.

How to Pass the NPPF Step 2 Inspector Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 65% (91/140 scored). Exceptional: 85%+. Low-band fail: below 35%. Panel may adjust the cut in exceptional circumstances.
Assessment: Single three-hour online MCQ paper of 150 questions. After the sitting, 10 poorest-performing items are removed; candidates are scored on 140. Content is drawn only from the endorsed Blackstone’s Police Manuals (crime; evidence and procedure; general police duties) for that year. Inspector syllabus emphasis is wider/supervisory than the sergeants’ paper.
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: No published standalone College candidate fee; register via force AIMS. Confirm any local force admin arrangements with your examinations officer.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NPPF Step 2 Inspector Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study against the three official areas in equal depth (crime; evidence and procedure; general police duties) — the practice bank mirrors that ~34/33/33 split.

2Drill PACE Codes C, D, E, F, G, A and B as application scenarios, not just definitions: detention clocks, necessity for arrest, identification safeguards and disclosure failures are frequent inspector-level discriminators.

3After each mock, review wrong answers against the exact Blackstone’s paragraph for your year; the real paper is drawn solely from that edition, and out-of-date manuals are a common fail factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NPPF Step 2 inspectors’ legal examination?

It is the College of Policing multiple-choice legal exam that substantive sergeants must pass under the National Police Promotion Framework to be eligible for inspector promotion. It is a single 150-question paper in three hours, scored on 140 after ten questions are removed.

What is the pass mark?

For inspectors the handbook sets a 65% pass mark (91 correct out of 140 scored questions). Scores of 85% or above receive an exceptional grade. Scores below 35% are low-band fails. The debrief panel can alter the cut in exceptional circumstances.

How does the inspector exam differ from the sergeant exam?

Both use the same 150-question / 3-hour format and three Blackstone’s areas, but the inspector paper uses the wider inspector syllabus with more supervisory/complex application, and the pass mark is higher (65% vs 55% for sergeants).

When are the 2026 inspectors’ sittings?

College of Policing published May 2026 (12–14 May; registration 16 March–16 April) and November 2026 (3–5 November; registration 7 September–5 October). Always confirm live dates on college.police.uk.

What should I revise from?

Only the Blackstone’s Police Manuals edition endorsed for your sitting (2026 edition for 2026 exams). The College does not endorse third-party Q&A books as syllabus sources. Use force Knowledge Hub practice materials where available.