Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a person at risk of developing Huntington's disease is considered medically fit to serve in police armed response units.

Decisions about police recruitment, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.

Chief Officers have a statutory duty of care to their officers and staff, and the public, and they must ensure candidates can be deployed safely in a role and fulfil the duties of a police officer.

Whether or not to recruit, and whether reasonable adjustments are possible, is ultimately the decision of individual Chief Officers, supported by the advice of occupational health professionals.

National guidance set by the College of Policing is clear that applicants seeking to join the police in England and Wales should be judged on their individual merits and circumstances. This includes consideration of their medical suitability.

All firearms officers must meet medical and fitness standards before initial training, and annually thereafter.

Information on the number of applicants received from those at risk of developing Huntington’s disease is not held by the department.