Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of entry requirements for people wishing to become police officers on the ability of the police force to recruit new staff.

The Government is committed to delivering the people’s priorities including the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers over the next three years. The national ‘Be a Force for All’ campaign was launched in September and has supported local recruitment across all forces in England and Wales.

Police officer entry requirements are set by the College of Policing. The Home Office is working with the National Police Chiefs Council, the College of Policing and forces to ensure there are no undue barriers for anyone who is qualified to do so from joining the police.