Police force lowers vision requirements

However, the force insisted that a recruitment push was the more likely cause for the 28 people who joined this month. Occupational health and welfare manager Janet Poston told optician: 'It's not just eyesight standards. We're putting every effort into recruitment.' She admitted that attracting people to the force was a problem. 'We see some extremely good candidates who have suited all other criteria, but their unaided vision - without contact lenses or spectacles - didn't meet the Home Office guidelines. We were aware that Durham constabulary decided to put this element of the guidelines to one side, so we decided to look at it,' she said. The constabulary consulted its medical officer before lowering the unaided vision requirements to 6/60. Aided vision remains at 6/6. It accepts applicants who have undergone laser surgery, provided they are 6-12 months' post-surgery 'without any problems'. Essex police does not conduct the examinations, but requires certificates confirming each applicant's vision from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The Home Office issues guidelines on vision standards for the police, but these guidelines are not stringent, and it is left to individual forces to apply them. Ms Preston added that the force was concerned about repercussions after one applicant wrote to his MP claiming the eyesight standards were discriminatory since some officers already serving would not have met them. There have been no reported criticisms of the change in policy. A survey undertaken by the force last year showed that some candidates had been concerned about the strict standard, the Essex Chronicle reported (January 1).