CopShop
Force Medical Examination

Police Officers encounter stressful situations, long hours and shift work.  Applicants need to be fit to deal with the pressures of being a police officer.  They should therefore be in good health both mentally and physically in order to cope with the demands of police work.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 
From 1st October 2004 under the Disability Discrimination Act is is unlawful to exclude candidates automatically on the basis of a medical condition or disability.

Rejection on medical grounds must be justified in terms of the aspects of the job which the applicant would be unable to carry out with a specific condition, illness or disease even if reasonable adjustments were made. Consideration should be given to the nature and extent of the disability, any adjustment which can be made, costs and practicality and likely effectiveness.

All applicants will be judged on individual merit therefore there is no definite list on what grounds a candidate would be refused entry on medical grounds.

The following areas of health are examined during the medical examination:

  • Height
  • Weight
  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
  • Blood Pressure
  • Eyesight
  • Hearing
  • Urine Test (Drugs, Sugar, Protein, Blood etc).
  • Heart
  • Lungs
  • Colour Vision
  • Reflexes,
  • Muscles & Joint examination (Where required)

    • Some forces request that you take a full eye test at an opticians and submit their report to your force Occupational Health Unit.  The cost of this external exam is normally reimbursed by your force.

    Check your Body Mass Index:
    Tesco.com

    Home Office Circular:

    Weight 

    BMI

     Underweight

    Under 18.5 

     Normal

     18.5 - 24.9

     Overweight

    25 - 29.9 

     Obese

    Over 30 

    Forces do accept applications from people who wear glasses or contact lenses. However an optician's report is required from all applicants.

    Unaided Vision Police cannot accept applicants whose unaided vision is worse than 6/36 in either eye (2nd line down on optician’s chart) or whose binocular vision (both eyes) is worse than 6/6.

    Aided Vision When wearing lenses or spectacles your vision must be better than 6/12 in either eye or 6/6 when using both eyes.

    Near Vision Requirements are 6/9 with both eyes together (aided).

    Colour Vision Severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromats) are not acceptable. Other colour vision deficiencies are not a bar but you will need to be aware of the deficiencies and make appropriate adjustments. The use of colour correcting lenses is not acceptable.

    Corrective Eye Treatment We cannot accept applicants who have undergone Radial Keratotomy (RK), Arcuate Keratotomy (AK), corneal grafts or any other surgery which results in the weakening of the cornea. Applicants who have undergone PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS or Cateract surgery would not be accepted until at least six weeks after surgery.

    Check your colour vision:

    Can you see the numbers in the following six images?  People suffering from colour blindness tend not to be able to.

    6 8 25 29 45 =56

     

    A copy of the Home Office Circular regarding the medical examination can be found in the download section (registration required).

    Visit the download section to download Home Office documents relating to the police medical examination.