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.
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.
posted by Absolutely PC at 3:18 pm
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