By 1919 staff
Questions have been raised over police entrance tests after the pass rate soared to 93 per cent.
In a speech to the Scottish Police Federation’s (SPF) conference, the organisation’s chair David Threadgold (pictured above) said the force must have the “highest standard of potential recruit”.
“This is a job like no other, and failing to instil these standards from the very start of the application process is doing a disservice to all and will ultimately fail to deliver for our organisations and for the communities we serve,” he said to Justice Secretary Angela Constance and Chief Constable Jo Farrell.
But a report for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) highlights “significant work to ensure sufficiency in applicants of a suitable quality to replace retired officers with new recruits”.
Figures published in 1919 in February revealed that constable applications to Police Scotland fell by 17 per cent between 2022/23 and 2023/24, down by 652 from 3,841 to 3,189.
However, last September Police Scotland launched its biggest ever recruitment campaign designed to “encourage potential candidates to view Police Scotland as an employer of choice”.
The recent SPA report documents that 952 probationers joined Police Scotland in 2024, which is the highest annual intake since the national force was established. This follows a recruitment freeze between September 2023 and March 2024.
With a general downward trend in applicants coupled with a rise in new recruits, a separate Freedom of Information request by 1919 has revealed a sharp rise in the proportion of people passing the Police Scotland Entrance Test (PSET) – a 60-minute exam covering numeracy, literacy, and information handling.
“Let’s make sure that those who want to be police officers are fit to do so”
David Threadgold, SPF chair
In 2022/23 only 78 per cent of applicants passed the PSET – rising to 87 per cent in 2023/24 and standing at 93 per cent in the most recent financial year up to December.
The total number who failed fell from 525 to 218 and 98 over the same time periods.
Similarly, while 82 per cent of constable applicants passed a fitness test in 2022/23, this has also risen to 93 per cent.
Threadgold told the SPF conference that context is therefore important when it comes to claims about record recruitment levels.
“Statistics can be misleading. Politicians may be more used than most at spinning statistics, but does the evidence show that the standard of recruits being employed by Police Scotland is dropping to deal with the recovery from this ultimately government-imposed recruitment freeze?” he asked.
“Should we read anything into evidence which shows a reduction in applications to Police Scotland, at the same time as record recruitment levels and an increase in the pass rate for the police standard entrance test to 93 per cent?
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Police Scotland has to increase its appeal and reach into the wider communities of Scotland, but we are steadfast in our view that this is, and should always remain, a disciplined organisation that demands the highest standard of potential recruit.”
He added: “We offered reasonable, ethical and affordable solutions to a lot of the issues that we now see years ago: the return of home visits; the interviewing of applicant referees; amongst others.
“Let’s make sure that those who want to be police officers are fit to do so.”
But in her response to Threadgold’s speech, Angela Constance said: “I do not share David’s pessimism on the challenges of recruitment.
“Policing offers excellent career prospects and continues to attract a strong field of applicants, and it is vital that those recruitment campaigns encourage participation from across our diverse communities.”
The SPA’s report on recruitment, promotion and succession planning states: “The rate of officer retirements has increased in recent years following changes to pension regulations.
“This has resulted in significant work to ensure sufficiency in applicants of a suitable quality to replace retired officers with new recruits.
It adds: “952 probationers joined Police Scotland in 2024. This is the highest annual intake in the history of Police Scotland.
“This is testament to work progressed to ensure a sufficient pipeline of new recruits.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Policing in Scotland is a highly rewarding career and we have been carrying out targeted recruitment campaigns to ensure the highest quality of candidates.
“All candidates are taken through a thorough recruitment journey before becoming a police officer.”