Police face legal battle over colour blindness
Police face legal battle over colour blindness
by JAMES MORGAN
The Herald October 17 2006
SCOTLAND'S largest police force is set to be challenged under sex discrimination laws after a row over colour-blind recruits.
Strathclyde Police rejected eight candidates in the past two years for having a form of red-green colour blindness usually only found in men.
But a landmark legal case in England has found that a colour-blind officer faced indirect sexual discrimination.
The ruling, at a tribunal against Hertfordshire Constabulary, could pave the way for a series of challenges to Strathclyde Police by candidates rejected because they were colour blind.
The family of Robin Dixon, 25, from East Kilbride, confirmed yesterday they would contest his rejection under sex discrimination laws.
His mother, Mari Dixon, said: "Robin is distraught that he has not been accepted after being suitable in every other way. His condition means he only has problems differentiating between shades of green.
"Strathclyde Police are saying he is medically unfit because of his colour vision. But we are appealing because red-green colour blindness is acceptable under the Police Scotland Regulations 2004.
"In the light of the Hertfordshire decision, we will also be trying to take this to a tribunal on the basis of sex discrimination."
Mr Dixon took his rejection to an employment tribunal but his complaint was rejected because it was time-barred.
The Dixons have now lodged an employment tribunal appeal in which they intend to argue that Mr Dixon has suffered indirect sexual discrimination.
Peter O'Donnell, a senior case work officer at the Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland, said: "The onus will be on the police force to show that they were trying to achieve a legitimate aim and the action they took was proportionate."
A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said they could not comment on specific cases.
original article http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/72310.html
by JAMES MORGAN
The Herald October 17 2006
SCOTLAND'S largest police force is set to be challenged under sex discrimination laws after a row over colour-blind recruits.
Strathclyde Police rejected eight candidates in the past two years for having a form of red-green colour blindness usually only found in men.
But a landmark legal case in England has found that a colour-blind officer faced indirect sexual discrimination.
The ruling, at a tribunal against Hertfordshire Constabulary, could pave the way for a series of challenges to Strathclyde Police by candidates rejected because they were colour blind.
The family of Robin Dixon, 25, from East Kilbride, confirmed yesterday they would contest his rejection under sex discrimination laws.
His mother, Mari Dixon, said: "Robin is distraught that he has not been accepted after being suitable in every other way. His condition means he only has problems differentiating between shades of green.
"Strathclyde Police are saying he is medically unfit because of his colour vision. But we are appealing because red-green colour blindness is acceptable under the Police Scotland Regulations 2004.
"In the light of the Hertfordshire decision, we will also be trying to take this to a tribunal on the basis of sex discrimination."
Mr Dixon took his rejection to an employment tribunal but his complaint was rejected because it was time-barred.
The Dixons have now lodged an employment tribunal appeal in which they intend to argue that Mr Dixon has suffered indirect sexual discrimination.
Peter O'Donnell, a senior case work officer at the Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland, said: "The onus will be on the police force to show that they were trying to achieve a legitimate aim and the action they took was proportionate."
A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said they could not comment on specific cases.
original article http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/72310.html
posted by Absolutely PC at 2:36 pm
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