Education requirements for police today v back yonder?

[jondude]

Just having a spat on another site where I said I was certain in the 70s candidates needed to be at least 5ft 8 or so and have 5 GCSE O levels?

He says there never, ever has been a height restriction or need for any schooling at all to enter the police.

Any elders in the profession know?

• * Ah sorry, was meant for speed, police and law forum

[vonhosen]

Yes there were minimum height requirements & an entrance exam.
The height requirements weren't the same for all forces (City of London minimum height requirements were taller than Met for instance).

[Reg Local]

City of London was 6’ for men if I remember correctly?

It was 5’9” for men & 5’6” for women in my force up until, I think, 1991.

[Bigends]

In the 70's, provincial forces height limit was 5' 8" for men and 5' 4" for women.

The city and some other forces was 6' for men - later dropped when the minimum height requirement was done away with.

Not sure there were academic requirements, however in my force applicants were required to sit an english and maths exam at their local station.

Nothing too taxing but it ensured they could read, write and carry out some basic maths.

I joined as a Cadet aged 17 - English O level was a minimum educational requirement.

Those who didnt meet reasonable educational standards were weeded out at the regional training centres when more than two weekly exams were failed. It was simply return to force, hand your kit in and goodbye

[bigandclever]

jondude said:

Ah sorry, was meant for speed, police and law forum

You can Report your own post and get it moved.

[jondude]

Great stuff all - thanks a bunch.

[standards]

In the 1980s some forces made everyone take their own test, others waived that for those with Maths & English O level at C or 6 and above, and a few for graduates with those exam passes.

Did driving course with some City of London and had a lunch stop there (to give the ‘driving in London’ experience). It was like Gullivers Travels-had to reach up to the coat hooks. Am spot on 6’.

[Blakewater]

I understand that being in the police requires a person to be fit and able to stand up to criminals wanting to get a bit rough, but what was the reasoning behind height restrictions?

I always thought there was a requirement to have good eyesight and not need glasses, but then I was told by a police force online that this isn't true.

[Chris32345]

Blakewater said:

I understand that being in the police requires a person to be fit and able to stand up to criminals wanting to get a bit rough, but what was the reasoning behind height restrictions?

I always thought there was a requirement to have good eyesight and not need glasses, but then I was told by a police force online that this isn't true.

That reminds me of a police officer on a police TV show who was nerely throwing upafter a short chase due to not eating for "religious reasons"
But apparently that's allowed

[Gary C]

" need for any schooling at all to enter the police."

Need a bloody Degree to enter Cheshire force now !

[Bigends]

Blakewater said:

I understand that being in the police requires a person to be fit and able to stand up to criminals wanting to get a bit rough, but what was the reasoning behind height restrictions?

I always thought there was a requirement to have good eyesight and not need glasses, but then I was told by a police force online that this isn't true.

Werent able to get in with glasses back in the 70's. Height restrictions had been traditionally in place for years. Remember no PPE back - just a truncheon. Yould invariably be patrolling alone so you needed to be able to handle yourself if things got rough

[helix402]

Uncorrected eyesight standards were recently dropped.

[ClaphamBoxS]

Believe Notts Police had a 6 or 6’1 minimum requirement....i am 6’1 ...was also told City of London used to recruit from old Guardsmen so expected them to be at least 6 foot.Could be wrong and sure someone will tell if so....

[Trevor555]

I joined in May 1991

I think that's about the time they relaxed the height requirement

I'm barely 5' 6"

The chap measuring me said "You'll just do"

But in the years following I saw officers shorter than me

5 GCSE/O level and a test to apply, then final interview in front of 3 senior officers, scary....

[Bigends]

ClaphamBoxS said:

Believe Notts Police had a 6 or 6’1 minimum requirement....i am 6’1 ...was also told City of London used to recruit from old Guardsmen so expected them to be at least 6 foot.Could be wrong and sure someone will tell if so....

The City was 6ft. I had a few mates transfer down there once the height limit was relaxed

[Pothole]

Chris32345 said:

That reminds me of a police officer on a police TV show who was nerely throwing upafter a short chase due to not eating for "religious reasons"
But apparently that's allowed

Why wouldn't it be?

[Blakewater]

Pothole said:

Chris32345 said:

That reminds me of a police officer on a police TV show who was nerely throwing upafter a short chase due to not eating for "religious reasons"
But apparently that's allowed

Why wouldn't it be?

I've nothing against people observing their religious beliefs, but in this case it inhibited the officer's ability to do his job.

Would it have been condoned if he'd been following some sort of fasting diet regime for weight loss or fitness?

[carreauchompeur]

Blakewater said:

Pothole said:

Chris32345 said:

That reminds me of a police officer on a police TV show who was nerely throwing upafter a short chase due to not eating for "religious reasons"
But apparently that's allowed

Why wouldn't it be?

I've nothing against people observing their religious beliefs, but in this case it inhibited the officer's ability to do his job.

Would it have been condoned if he'd been following some sort of fasting diet regime for weight loss or fitness?

Grow up. Nobody is a robot and you can’t always be 100%. Diversity in the Police is hugely important and equating it to fasting for a diet is a straw man.

[Rushjob]

ClaphamBoxS said:

Believe Notts Police had a 6 or 6’1 minimum requirement....i am 6’1 ...was also told City of London used to recruit from old Guardsmen so expected them to be at least 6 foot.Could be wrong and sure someone will tell if so....

6' and 13 st minimum was Nottingham City up until the amalgamation with the county Police in about 1973?

When I joined Notts in 1987 there was a 5'10" for men 5'6 for women height requirement and at that time they still kept the old 6' / 13 stone minimum for men if you were going to be posted to Central PS in Nottingham, soon went the way of all restrictions though......