Direct Communications Unit

2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Switchboard 020 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4745 Textphone: 020 7035 4742

E-mail: [Home Office request email] Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

[FOI #9789 email]

Mr George Gardner

Reference: T5446/9 20^th April 2009

Dear Mr Gardner,

Thank you for your e-mail of 26 March requesting information on medical fitness policy for police officers recruitment and the Disability Discrimination Act. Your request has been handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We believe that the information that you have asked for is already reasonably accessible to you. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 (amended) 2005 (effective from 4 december 2007) places a duty on all public bodies, when carrying out their functions to have due regard to the need of disabled people and to actively promote disability equality. The Specific Duty for Public Authorities required production of a Disability Equality Scheme. Further details of the disability duty can be found at http://www.dotheduty.org/

In Oct 2007, the police service launched a guidance document `Disability in the Police Service'. The document was compiled by a number of policing partners, including the National Disabled Police Association (NDPA) and The Employers Forum on Disability. That document provides forces with good practice on recruitment issues for disabled people and can be found at: http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equality-diversity/disability-in-the-police-service/

On the first two questions relating to the medical fitness, the Home Office does not hold the information. You need to contact the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) at NPIA, 10th Floor West, New King's Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9QY www.npia.police.uk 

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting your complaint within two months to the below address quoting reference [11598]:

Information Rights Team
Information and Record Management Service
Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the independent review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely

Olukemi Raji

Police Productivity Unit