Force is facing a claim of sexism from men who failed in jobs bid

from the Scottish Sunday Express - August 26th 2007

Would-be officers rejected for being colour blind seek compensation

Force is facing a claim of sexism from men who failed in jobs bid

By Tom Martin

Scotland's largest police force faces a barrage of compensation claims in a row over rejected colour blind recruits.

In the past three years, Strathclyde Police rejected 16 candidates with vision problems despite government guidelines saying they should not have been barred.

But now two failed applicants could pave the way for others to seek thousands of pounds in compensation in a test case next week.

The move, by Robin Dixon, 25, and Graeme McCullie, 28, follows a landmark legal action south of the Border which found that a colour blind officer faced indirect sexual discrimination because the condition is more common in men than in women.

Mr Dixon, a store manager, from east Kilbride, has now launched a sex discrimination complaint alongside Mr McCullie.

Both men discovered other forces would have accepted them after a government review recommended colour blindness should not bar potential recruits.

Mr McCullie, from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, who is now working as a plumber, said: "It was always my ambition to join the police and a real blow when my application was turned down.

"It seems rediculous at a time when you read about the police wanting to get more officers then rejecting them because of an outdated position that most others have changed."

He added: "I am not interested in compensation I just want to make sure no other potential recruits have to go through what happened to me."

The men's cases will be considered at a preliminary employment tribunal next Monday.

Mr Dixon is currently working in Dublin but his father, Robert, 55, said: "Other forces, including the Met, have said he would be acceptable to join them.

"We cannot understand why Strathclyde Police would continue to argue they are right when they are in the wrong."

Strathclyde Police said it was inappropriate to comment on individual applications but their spokeswoman added "current policy" prevented those with colour blindness from becoming police constables.

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Colour Vision not a bar in Australia

Australian police forces are acknowledging that perfect colour vision is not essential in performing the role of an operational police officer.

The Australian Federal Police require testing of colour vision to a ‘defective safe’ standard (ref).

The requirement for "suitable colour vision" to join the Western Austalia Police has been removed and people with colour vision impairment, inclduing former applicants who previously did not comply with the colour vision standards, are now being encouraged to apply. (ref)

The Queensland Police Service standard in relation to colour vision does not call for perfect responses in relation to colour vision perception. The Service specifies a requirement for a good standard of colour vision in the perception of distinct colours, as opposed to perception of shades.

Meeting the Queensland standard requires each applicant's indivual colour vision to be assessed. General labelling would not be acceptable and could lead to claims under Australia's Disability Discrimination Act. (ref)

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