Thanks a lot Steve.
When I get called for selection with the police I'll be bending your ear for advice! Apparently it will be september before I get the call as they have had a shedload of applications of late.
Incidently, and in regard to your question at the top of the thread, I have just applied to Oxford for their APP and they asked me to go for selection. The email I got said the selection process consists of four days with the usual psychometric testing and aptitude tests, a day long group discussion/interview session and a simulator test with a day in the middle to analyse your results and decide whether to let you continue or send you packing. The problem I have with it is that they can only (according to their website) offer a bank loan to cover 50% of the training cost, and at £58,500 for the integrated course + £12,000 accomodation you basically need around £35,000 in advance. I'm definately going to go for a look anyway.
Cheers, Eoin.