Determinations of the Scottish Ministers on Eyesight Standards for Entry to a Scottish Police Force

It is set down in Statute that the Standards of eyesight for anyone seeking to be recruited as a police constable will be according to the determination of The Scottish Ministers. [The Police (Scotland) Act 2004 refers]

The Determination of the Scottish Ministers in this respect is according to Standards issued as an attachment to Police Circular 8/2003.

In respect to colour vision, the Medical Advisors to the Scottish Police Service (MASPS) have stated that "Full colour vision is not a requirement of the role of an Operational Police Constable"

The standards for Colour Vision are as follows:-

• Those who see only in black and white (monochromate) will be rejected
  NOTE: in the majority of cases, monochromate vision is associated with other severe eyesight issues
• Those who are assessed as being Dichromats should not be rejected on grounds of their colour vision.
  NOTE: Police forces are required to advise any such candidates of their status, make them aware of any issues which may arise from this and provide them with coping strategies which enable them to carry out their role.
• Those who are assessed as being Severe Trichromat should not be rejected on grounds of their colour vision
  NOTE: Police forces are required to advise any such candidates of their status, make them aware of any issues which may arise from this and provide them with coping strategies which enable them to carry out their role.
• Those who are assessed as being mild Trichromat should be treated as "normals"

The Standards as published by the Scottish Government can be found at

• http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Police/Circulars/2003/Circular-8 or
• http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1101/0052394.pdf (Adobe PDF format)

The standards proposed for Special Constables can be found at

• http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/19102939/6

Strathclyde Police and National Fitness Standard for the Scottish Police Service

Strathclyde Police requires all new recruits to meet the new National Fitness Standard for the Scottish Police Service.


From 1st September 2007, all new applicants and recruits to the Scottish Police Service have been required to undertake the new national fitness standard as a demonstration of physical fitness.


The new standard replaces the variety of fitness testing regimes utilised by the eight Scottish Forces to date. In addition, it links into the fitness regime used by the Scottish Police College during both the Initial Training and Reconvention probationary courses.


Once appointed, probationary officers will be expected to continue to demonstrate their fitness to the required levels throughout their probationary period.


Strathclyde Police appear willing to agree to this common standard yet have unilaterally rejected the common standards set down for colour vision by the Scottish Ministers, and approved by the same stakeholder bodies who will have agreed the new fitness standards, including ACPOS.


Throughout Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, potential police recruits know precisely how their colour vision fits with the acceptable standards for being a police officer. Only in the area policed by Strathclyde are they given the message "you are not wanted".

• Colour vision defects are no longer a bar to entry. However severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromats) are not acceptable [Devon and Cornwall]


• The use of colour correcting lenses and sever colour vision deficiencies (monochromats) are unacceptable.Severe anomalous dichromats or trichomats are acceptable. [Cheshire]


• Severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromats) are not acceptable. Anomalous trichromats are acceptable. Severe anomalous trichromats or dichromats are also acceptable but you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments. [Northamptonshire]


• Severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromats) are not acceptable. Mild anomalous trichromats are acceptable. Severe anomalous dichromats or trichromats are also acceptable but you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments. [Northumbria]


• Click here for information on the Standards for Scottish police forces

Strathclyde Police Choose to Discriminate

Strathclyde Police are choosing to disciminate against those with colour vision which varies from "normal".

In a docuument published on their website at http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/recruitment/FileSelect.aspx?fc_id=3306&docid=4751, Strathclyde Police state the following:-

There is no absolute barrier to recruitment because an individual suffers from any specific medical conditions. All applications for entry are assessed on their merits individually by the recruitment department with input from the Force Medical Adviser. This allows the Force to consider the need for any reasonable adjustments on a case by case basis. For example although the Home Office Guidance describes some conditions as being unlikely to be compatible with recruitment Strathclyde Police have accepted recruits with insulin treated diabetes, some infectious conditions and certain knee conditions. In other situations, however, Strathclyde Police have had to set a more stringent standard for colour vision.

So, quite clearly, Strathclyde Police, by their own admission, are choosing to single out potential recruits who have colour vision which varies from the "normal".

• There is no explantation as to why Strathclyde Police "have had" to set a more stringent standard.
• There is no known statement of what standards Strathclyde Police are applying to colour vision.

This admission of discrimination by Strathclyde Police is despite that facts

• that an in-depth investigation into eysight and policing revealed that colour vision (apart from the most severe monochromate) is not relevant to the role of an operational police officer
• that Standards for eyesight for police forces in Scotland are laid down in law
• that the same standards are being applied by police forces throughout the United Kingdom
• that the Disability Discrimination Act expects larger employers to find it easier to be able to offer "reasonable adjustments" (Strathclyde being the 2nd largest police force in the UK)
• that such attitudes have been found to be disciminatory in a case heard by an Employment Tribunal