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Lord McDowall

Reference: T23842/8

8 December 2008

Dear Lord McDowall,

Thank you for your e-mail of 10 November requesting a copy of the guidelines that are given to UK police forces which confirm offences which would exclude persons from joining the police force and which govern the action a police force should take when a police officer is convicted of a criminal offence.

Please find enclosed Home Office circular 54/2003 [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 8 11:54:00 2008 ]which contains eligibility criteria for police recruitment, which includes details of policy with regards to cautions and convictions for prospective applicants to the Police Service. [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 8 11:54:00 2008 ]

Serving police officers are required to report any criminal conviction to their Chief Officer. It is then the responsibility of the Chief Officer to consider what action should be taken.

I hope this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Miss C Johnson

Enc