HC Deb 02 February 1979 vol 961 c604W
Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of attitude and all other tests used in the selection of recruits to the police force.

Dr. Summerskill

All forces in England and Wales require candidates who do not possess prescribed educational qualifications to take a standard entrance test. Details of the test are given in Home Office circular No. 4/1974, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. A few forces require candidates to take an additional test of written English. Attitude tests are not used: a candidate's suitability is assessed at an interview with senior police officers.

Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the police authorities that a condition of the completion of the probation period for new policemen shall be satisfactory reports on attitudes to ethnic minorities.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

No. It is for the chief officer of police to determine, in the light of a constable's performance of his duties during the probationary period, whether his appointment should not be confirmed on the grounds that his attitudes make him unsuitable for police work.