BBC News - Friday, 1 October, 2004

The measures are part of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) which applies to uniformed services except the armed forces across the UK.

The police, fire and prison services will no longer be able to reject people who are HIV positive, have epilepsy or diabetes on health grounds.

The new act has been welcomed by support groups.

HIV status 'irrelevant'

A spokesman for the Terence Higgins Trust said: "To not allow someone with HIV to be employed within those services, that's not acceptable.

"The act is a signal for employers to look more carefully at employment procedures. Somebody's HIV status is irrelevant if they can do the job."

Until now, the police service was under no obligation to consider applications from people with disabilities.

Under the new laws, all candidates will be assessed on their competency first.

They will have to pass the police fitness test and show they will be able to work for at least five years, including a physically demanding two-year probationary period.

A Home Office spokesperson said that successful candidates would then be able to tell recruiters of their medical condition "which the police service would then make reasonable adjustments to accommodate".

Andy Hewlett, HIV consultant for the Gay Police Association, told BBC News Online the new laws would help reassure and protect police staff who work for constabularies which have not yet introduced supportive policies for HIV employees.

"As an openly [HIV] positive police officer I fully welcome the inclusion of the police into the DDA," he said.

"With today's improvements in HIV therapy, many positive people are able to continue working and even return to the work place.

"Over the past five years, I have received a number of enquiries from positive people who wish to join the police as police officers and special constables - today, for some at least, the door is open."

Diabetes

In the case of insulin-dependent diabetes, a spokesman from Diabetes UK told BBC News Online there were already many people with the condition working in the police, fire and ambulance services.

"The real test is going to be when there is a discrimination case brought and it goes to court," he said.

"The only group exempt is the armed services, so that is what the courts should reflect."

The Home Office said a steering committee working alongside police bodies and disability groups has produced guidelines for police forces covering recruitment and training.

Each police force has nominated a delegate to oversee the changes.

The Disability Rights Commission and the Prison Service have worked together in preparation for the changes and some projects were already in place to allow staff with disabilities to carry out their roles, she said.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said people with certain disabilities applying for these jobs would still have to pass all the relevant tests.

"This simply means that rather than turning people away as soon as they apply - if they meet the requirements they can be recruited."

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