Culture Change Needed ?

Tom from Peterhead wrote on 1 Oct 2006

Sorry guys but if had asked me two years ago for my opinion of the Police I would have told you that they were a fair and professional service. However after seeing the other side of them I am sorry to say the testing should be done independently and should start with those in the job now. We are as tax payers spending a fortune training the new recruits only to turn the loose with the bad eggs that are already out there.

We have a culture of bad practice and no matter how many senior police officers stand and spout how the are behind the latest topic of the day unless those at the coal face are behind it then there will never be any change. We need to root out the bad eggs and start a new programme of retraining and the testing should be repeated every few years along with the a personal assessment system that reflects how the officer has performed over the past year.

In short we should have a Police service to be proud of, what we have is a complacent self-centred self-righteous service staffed by people who think the uniform gives them the right to act as they please.

For full context of this comment
see Police may extend screening tests to bar bigots at http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1420242006

Executive calls for enforcement

The Scottish Executive has called for North Lanarkshire Council "to respond appropriately in terms of enforcement" to the news that Council Leader Jim McCabe lit up a cigarette during a magazine interview conducted on council premises, in contravention of laws passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Read the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6265105.stm

The Executive appears to be less eager to call on Strathclyde Police "to respond appropriately in terms of enforcement" when it comes to compliance with laws, also passed by the Scottish Parliament, relating to police recruitment.

The Police (Scotland) Regulations state quite clearly that Scottish Ministers set the eyesight standards which should be applied to police recruitment.

Yet Strathclyde police are refusing to apply these standards in relation to colour vision and have rejected at least eight applicants who were deemed fit in every other way to serve as a police constable.

This matter was raised last Thursday in the Scottish Parliament by Linda Fabiani MSP who called on the Executive to "undertake to ensure that the one Scottish police force that contravenes these regulations amends their recruitment procedures and makes amends to those applicants who are unfairly and unjustly disadvantaged."

The Executive has been quick to call for enforcement against smokers. For some reason they seem reluctant to call for the police to comply with the law.

Parliamentary Question

Scottish Parliament General Questions Thursday 11th January 2007

Linda Fabiani
To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces are required to follow its guidance on recruitment, contained in police circular 8/2003. (S2O-11662)

Cathie Jamieson
As the member will be aware from previous parliamentary questions she submitted, issues relating to police recruitment are an issue for individual chief constables. Yje guidance provided in Police Circulars is provided to chief constables to advise them in their operational decision making and it is for chief constables alone to determine which individuals are or are not suitable for appointment to the police service.

Linda Fabiani
The Minister is correct, I have had these answers, however I now have a copy of a letter here from her department to a constituent, intimating that this guidance actually became Regulation with the Police Regulations 2004. Is the Minister aware that Strathclyde Police, alone amongst Scotland's police forces, discriminate against recruits with a particular minor form of colour blindness, against these regulations; and will she now undertake to ensure that the one Scottish police force that contravenes these regulations amends their recruitment procedures and makes amends to those applicants who are unfairly and unjustly disadvantaged.

Cathie Jamieson
I think it is important of course to recognise that Miss Fabiani has of course tabled questions and there has indeed been correspondence on this issue over a period of time and I'm not able to comment on a particular case in relation to this because I understand it is the subject of some employment tribunal proceedings. As a general response however, revised guidelines have been issued to Scottish police forces that must be taken account of in recruitment procedures. At the end of the day, in some instances, it may simply be the case that there are other matters which will be taken into account in terms of recruitment and it is, of course, for the chief constables themselves to make the decision who the most appropriate individuals are to have in their forces.



NOTES
1. Strathclyde Police have admitted to rejecting eight candidates as a consequence of their colour vision
2. In each of these cases the rejection was solely on the grounds of their colour vision, the candidates being deemed suitable for appointment to the post of police constable in every other way
3. Rejection of these candidates was contrary to the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Take Care of Disability

from Scottish Perspective in Chamber HR


An interesting case is pending against Scotland's largest police force. Strathclyde police face a challenge following the rejection of eight candidates, in the past two years, because they had a form of red green colour blindness that is more prevalent in men. In the case of Webster v. Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, an officer with some ten years service suffered discrimination because he had a form of colour blindness, where he could not distinguish shades of green. The Tribunal confirmed that this could amount to indirect sex discrimination.

The case against Strathclyde was initially rejected as being out of time but an appeal has been lodged. Employers need to take especial care with issues such as this, where there is a medical condition that might have a greater impact on one sex than the other, as this not only raises an issue of a disability claim but also a potential sex discrimination claim.

What may seem a simple matter for an employer can turn out very different in Tribunal. Never make assumptions about an employee, always take medical and professional advice and ensure that all options are considered. Seek professional help with what adjustments can be made and what funding could be available through the Access to Work Scheme.

Read original article

Colour blind rejection could be discriminatory

from The Journal Online
the online members magazine of the Law Society of Scotland

Sex discrimination case threat for male-only medical condition

News, 16 October 2006

---

Strathclyde Police could be facing a number of sex discrimination cases brought by potential male recruits rejected for a form of colourblindness.

The force has rejected eight candidates in the last two years for the condition, which is usually only found in men. However, a recent legal case in England ruled that a colourblind officer had been the victim of indirect sexual discrimination by Herefordshire Constabulary for this reason.

Robin Dixon from East Kilbride, who has difficulties distinguishing between shades of green, was rejected by Strathclyde Police, despite being told that he would have made a good constable. He took his case to an employment tribunal, but his claim was rejected because it was time-barred.

The Disability Rights Commission's head of Scottish legal affairs, Lynn Welsh, said the issue should be made clearer, as it depended on whether an individual's colourblindness would have a substantial impact on their ability to do the job.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said the force was unable to comment on the issue because Mr Dixon had lodged an employment tribunal appeal.

Read original article

Were You Rejected

Have you been rejected by Strathclyde Police on grounds of your colour vision?

If you have, we would like to hear from you.

Contact us by e-mail on absolutelypc@googlemail.com

Linda Fabiani Asks Question

In the debate regarding the suitability of men with colour vision deficiency to be able to carry out the role of an operation police constable, Strathclyde Police have maintained that they are not compelled to follow the guidance given to them by Scottish Ministers.

Linda Fabiani MSP is once again trying to ask a question on this matter in the Scottish Parliament.

This will be under General Questions sometime between 11.40 and 12 noon tomorrow (Thursday) - she is number 4 so there is a good chance her question will he heard.

The question is:-

4. Linda Fabiani: To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces are required to follow its guidance on recruitment, contained in police circular 8/2003. (S2O-11662)