Epilepsy and Equality Act and PCEP

Hi, I had a colleague in a similar position. Can you look up the policy for your area police? Eg this is Essex
https://www.essex.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/essex/careers/careers-medical-faqs.pdf
Which has a section about Epilepsy and what can be considered reasonable adjustments.
Unfortunately for my colleague her epilepsy diagnosis was very recent and as she was unable to drive she didn't explore it further back then. However now she has her epilepsy under control and can drive again she is considering it too.
I hope you can find the information you need from your local force, but it does seem to be on a case by case basis.
Best wishes for your application

Hello,
I have made an application to join my local police force through the police constable entry program. In my application I stated I suffer from Epilepsy, I stated the reasonable adjustments that I may require in flexible shifts and shifts finishing no later than 12am, and that whilst I will do everything I can to get a manual driving licence provided the co-operation and stating I have Epilepsy would not be a barrier to joining my local police force as I want to become a police officer. I spoke to local police officers who said to contact recruitment and HR, I put forward an application as they said you never know if you never try. How does the Equality Act protect this please?

All Beds police officers start on Intervention, which is the front line response element, and considered critical as this is where you will receive all of your basic police training and experience. Beds operates a 4 on / 4 off shift pattern on intervention -meaning you will usually do 2 days followed by 2 nights then 4 off.
You would effectively be asking for a "no nights" adjustment - and the only way to achieve this would be for you to do 4 days in a row, straddling 2 teams. Whilst this is theoretically possible, it would be a horrible idea for the force, creating a lot of admin headaches and leaving your actual team one short on every night shift. A lot of people spend a minimum of 3 years on intervention, many spend their entire careers there. It's also questionable if you would be able to do certain training and how you'd obtain a response driving ticket with no night driving.
Additionally, whilst doing 4 days means no change in shift, doing 4 days of 12 hour shifts is very, very tiring as you have 3 days with only a 12 hour break between shifts, and its not impossible that you could be late off on any of those.
Bottom line - it's theoretically possible, but is it really a reasonable adjustment for a constable who is new to the force? You're asking the force and your future team to make a lot of adjustments for you and for the team to be short-handed on all night shifts.

But surely there’ll be a way to do shifts that’s flexible according to what I can do right. After all I don’t want my health condition to stop me working within the force. And they have taken on officers with Epilepsy when I spoke to them in person.

Hi Brizzle,
My area police is Bedfordshire. I cannot find it please can you help me find it please? My Epilepsy diagnosis was back in High School. I was 7 years seizure free and over the last 2 years I have had 4 seizures although they were whilst asleep. My Epilepsy is kept under control when my medication is taken on time, alongside a good length of sleep.
The response I got so far in my application is I would need to fill out a FAW Form. Although my reasonable adjustments is not guaranteed. And since it’s a PCEP Program, I would need to have had a manual driving licence by the time I have finished my training. I am just wondering what is the training length and how long I would have and got to get a manual driving license?

All Beds police officers start on Intervention, which is the front line response element, and considered critical as this is where you will receive all of your basic police training and experience. Beds operates a 4 on / 4 off shift pattern on intervention -meaning you will usually do 2 days followed by 2 nights then 4 off.
You would effectively be asking for a "no nights" adjustment - and the only way to achieve this would be for you to do 4 days in a row, straddling 2 teams. Whilst this is theoretically possible, it would be a horrible idea for the force, creating a lot of admin headaches and leaving your actual team one short on every night shift. A lot of people spend a minimum of 3 years on intervention, many spend their entire careers there. It's also questionable if you would be able to do certain training and how you'd obtain a response driving ticket with no night driving.
Additionally, whilst doing 4 days means no change in shift, doing 4 days of 12 hour shifts is very, very tiring as you have 3 days with only a 12 hour break between shifts, and its not impossible that you could be late off on any of those.
Bottom line - it's theoretically possible, but is it really a reasonable adjustment for a constable who is new to the force? You're asking the force and your future team to make a lot of adjustments for you and for the team to be short-handed on all night shifts.

Hi! I've also applied for this role. I've completed nationalsift and about to start the OAC. I've completed the writtenexercise but I'm not very confident in passing of thebriefing and video competency exercises. I wanted to askyou if you know in particular what they will ask me in thissection? And how can I pass? Would appreciate anyhelp!