Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Monday, 16 July 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 September 2012. It was answered by Lord Herbert of South Downs (Conservative) on Monday, 3 September 2012 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Recruitment

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the implications of the Winsor Report for diversity in the police service, with reference to the recommendations to (a) increase the pass mark for the recruits selection test and (b) to increase the fitness standard for recruits and serving officers.

[118204]

Answer

The recommendations on raising the pass mark for SEARCH assessment test and fitness testing are included in the Policy Equality Statement in Tom Winsor's Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions—Final Report, which was published on 15 March. In the report, Tom Winsor states that the effect that raising the pass mark has on protected groups should be monitored by the appropriate body. For fitness testing, he says, in his view, the test is justifiable because it is job related and does not have a disproportionately detrimental effect on people on the grounds of age or sex.

These recommendations have been referred to the police negotiating machinery for consideration.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), will consider carefully the potential equality impact of raising the pass mark for SEARCH and recommendations on annual fitness tests for officers in line with her legal responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 118204; 549 c211W
Session: 2012-13
Subjects: Police Recruitment Standards
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Police: Recruitment

Secondary information

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