HC Deb 28 November 2000 vol 357 cc514-5W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to police forces about the recruitment of individuals with criminal records. [139481]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Home Office has not issued guidance to police forces regarding the recruitment of persons who have convictions and who wish to become police officers. It is for individual chief officers to decide whether a particular conviction should be a bar to the recruitment of an applicant.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence he has received from the RUC concerning the recruiting of former RUC officers and reservists to police forces in England and Wales. [139929]

Mr. Charles Clarke

None. However, the Royal Ulster Constabulary Voluntary Severance Support Unit has communicated with all police forces in England and Wales to indicate a potential recruitment base from former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and RUC Reserve.