Armed officer numbers could fall over colour blind changes

A NEW colour blind test could derail the effort to recruit more armed officers, the Police Federation has warned.

The tests for colour vision deficiency (CVD) will mean hundreds of officers giving up their weapons at a time when forces are struggling to hire new recruits, the organisation representing rank and file officers says.

According to The Guardian, one officer is already considering legal action while the Police Federation claims the changes could be discriminatory on the grounds of disability and gender.

Figures suggest men are more susceptible to developing CVD, and most of the 6,459 armed officers in England and Wales are male.

The change was brought in by the

‘The test is intended to screen out CVD sufferers yet we know from research that these tests are unreliable’

College of Policing which sets rules and standards in England and Wales.

Ché Donald, the vice-chairman of the Police Federation, told the paper: “The test is intended to screen out CVD sufferers, yet we know from extensive research studies that the tests used are unreliable and do not achieve the objectives set out by the college and are not a proportionate means to achieving a legitimate aim.

“Previously, officers were required to pass on one of two CVD tests; they now need to pass on both. Retrospective testing is also taking place for those who previously undertook these tests and identified with mild CVD.”

It is suggested that officers could struggle to detect red dots used in the firing of electric stun guns and other firearms if they struggle to make out the colour. However, that has been met with fierce opposition. Others say that colour is negligible and will not affect officers’ ability to use firearms.

Those who fail the tests would likely be allocated other duties within forces.

The Government wants more armed officers to combat Britain’s rising terrorist threat, although police chiefs are struggling to achieve a rise in numbers.

The college’s spokesman said: “The changes do not exclude all officers with colour vision deficiency but only those below a certain threshold.”