HC Deb 01 November 1945 vol 415 c759W
Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to waive the age limit of 30 years for entry into the regular police force in the case of ex-Servicemen who passed the necessary qualifying examinations before being called up into the Services and who were below the age of 30 at the time of their call up.

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. The Police Regulations already provide that a candidate may be admitted over the age of 30 in special circumstances approved by the Secretary of State, but I do not think it would be in the interests of police efficiency to make a general relaxation. Before the war it was the practice in most forces not to accept men of more than 25 or 26, but I have advised police authorities and chief officers of the police that in the immediate post-war years it would be desirable to accept men up to the age of 30.