§ 32. Mr. Martin Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the maximum age for enlistment in the police.
§ Mr. EdeThe police regulations provide that a male candidate for appointment to a police force must be under 30 years of age and a woman candidate not over 35 years of age, but I have power, which I exercise in all suitable cases, to approve the appointment of candidates over these ages in special circumstances on the recommendation of the appointing authority.
§ Mr. LindsayIn view of the present shortage does the Home Secretary not consider that the age limit might well be raised slightly?
§ Mr. EdeWhere an appointing authority wishes to appoint a man slightly above the age I give my careful consideration to the matter, but it is, of course, desirable that the average age of the police force should not be too high.