British police officers - does colour blindness matter?

[gweerz]

Concerning becoming a police officer in Britain:

I have red-green colour vision deficiency (anomalous trichromat or severe anomolous trichromat, level not yet determined). After the two year probationer training I'd like to either join the Criminal Investigation Department as a detective or a Tactical Firearms Unit.

What are the colour vision requirements for these posts? Do I have any hope of being accepted?

Also are there colour vision requirements for firearms training if I want firearms training as a police office?

[County copper]

If you get in the job with your eyesight like this you should be ok for CID but TFU maybe another matter, will be down to force policy

[gweerz]

If you get in the job with your eyesight like this you should be ok for CID but TFU maybe another matter, will be down to force policy

Just out of curiosity, do the CID detectives carry sidearms (handguns) while on duty?

[st13]

May be wrong, but I think you may struggle to get in the police full stop. I`m sure i was tested for colour blindness on my entrant medical, and I am definetly tested every couple of years in order to keep my driving authority.

Like its been said though, it varies from force to force.

Good luck though. Nigel.

[Cockney Corner.]

Just out of curiosity, do the CID detectives carry sidearms (handguns) while on duty?

Some 'tecs will carry firearms as their duties require (Close Protection Officers fr'instance) but generally no. From what you've said, carrying a firearm seems to be more important to you than becoming a police officer per se (I've never heard of anyone becoming an AFO [Authorised Firearms Officer] after just two years, for example). Given that we are routinely unarmed, wouldn't other European forces prove a better match for you?

[gweerz]

Some 'tecs will carry firearms as their duties require (Close Protection Officers fr'instance) but generally no. From what you've said, carrying a firearm seems to be more important to you than becoming a police officer per se (I've never heard of anyone becoming an AFO [Authorised Firearms Officer] after just two years, for example). Given that we are routinely unarmed, wouldn't other European forces prove a better match for you?

Carrying a firearm or not is really not something I base my decisions on. Having explored different European and US police forces and procedures, I'm curious as to how the British police work and with what kind of equipment they have. In my opinion it sounds a bit unsafe to be a peace officer without carrying the tools that enable you to respond to imminate threats. Then again I've never lived in the UK. But maybe it's more exciting to be a police officer in the UK than it is in other European countries... dunno.

And about becoming a police officer for examply in my home country; I can't, I'm red-green colour deficient.

[County copper]

In my force close protection officers are not tec's as you call them but all come from TFU

[gweerz]

In my force close protection officers are not tec's as you call them but all come from TFU

Does your force have colour vision requirements for TFU officers? If yes, how strict?

[County copper]

I'm not a TFU officer, but can find out for you all recruits have to pass an eyesight test for colour blindness

[Sgt Lobster]

The following link provides the eyesight standard for forces in England & Wales:

http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/defa...=article&ID=27

For the sake of completeness this is what it says about colour blindness:

Colour vision

Severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromats) are not acceptable. Anomalous trichromats are acceptable. Severe anomolous trichromats or dichromats are aceptable but you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments. The use of colour correcting lenses is not acceptable.

[gweerz]

you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments.

Who should I contact to understand what this means?

[Sgt Lobster]

gweerz,

I would imagine it is down to an individual force's Medical Officer. Each UK force is a separate entity and within the national standards each will decide who they will take. The following links should be useful:

http://www.police.uk/recruitment.asp

http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/defa...n=article&ID=1


Lobster.

[pcplod]

The present eyesight standards for recruitment to Police forces is supposed to be consistent across England and Wales (where there is supposed to be a common framework) and consistent across all forces in Scotland. This consistency is not necessarily being applied - but if it's not being applied then you can challenge the force!

The eyesight standards were changed in 2003, partly because the previous standards could not be proven to be related to the role of an operational police constable and were therefore not in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (which applied to police forces from October 2004).

Full colour vision is not a requirement for the role of an operational police officer.

Testing for colour deficiency should not be part of the selection process for police officers. However medical, eyesight and fitness tests will be carried out on those who are successful in passing the selection process.

Applicants who are found to be truely colour blind (monochromats, i.e. they see in black and white) will be rejected. Those who are found to have any other form of colour deficiency should NOT be rejected. Each person's colour deficiency should be assessed individually and the force shold instruct them in appropriate Coping Strategies.

Recruits with colour deficiency are also likely to have certain job exclusions applied to them for the duration of their service - including, almost certainly, Tactical Firearms duties and probably specialist fast car duties.

[Titus_Pullo]

I have a colleague in the Met who is an advanced driver. He is colour-blind, but I'm not sure how bad it is. He joined (well) before 2003 though.

T_P

[speedkuff]

Red light... Green light... ah soddit we're the filth...lol