The Police (Promotion) Regulations 1996

Regulation 3(8)

SCHEDULE 1 QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS

1.—(1) The qualifying examinations for promotion to the ranks of sergeant or inspector are examinations in —

(a) criminal law,

(b) evidence and procedure in criminal courts,

(c) traffic law,

(d) general police duties, and

(e) managerial competence,

held under arrangements and on syllabuses approved by or on behalf of the examinations board.

(2) Each of the qualifying examinations referred to in sub-paragraph (1) comprises —

(a) Part I, consisting of a written paper, and

(b) Part II, consisting of practical tests.

(3) There shall be held in each year each Part of the qualifying examinations for promotion to the rank of inspector and, as the case may be, sergeant.

2.—(1) There shall continue to be an examinations board (“the examinations board”) appointed by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the qualifying examinations referred to in paragraph 1(1).

(2) The examinations board shall determine —

(a) the standard to be achieved by a candidate in order to obtain a pass in any Part of such a qualifying examination, and

(b) the circumstances in which a person who has failed in Part II of such a qualifying examination may attempt it a second time without again obtaining a pass in Part I.

3.  The examination papers and practical tests referred to in paragraph 1(2) shall be set and marked in accordance with arrangements approved by the examinations board.

4.  The examinations board shall secure that each chief officer of police is notified —

(a) of the dates on which it is proposed to hold, and the general arrangements for holding, each Part of each of the qualifying examinations referred to in paragraph 1(1),

(b) of the closing dates for the submission to them of the names of candidates, and

(c) of the results in so far as they affect members of the police force of which he is the chief officer.

5.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), a constable who will before 1st December in any year have completed 2 years' service and have completed his probationary service is eligible to take Part I of the qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of sergeant in that year.

(2) Previous service, including probationary service, within regulation 3(3) or (4) counts for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1).

(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), a member of a police force who on 1st July in any year holds the rank of sergeant, otherwise than on temporary promotion under regulation 6, is eligible to take Part I of the qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of inspector in that year.

(4) A member of a police force who has at any time obtained a pass in an examination which at that time constituted, under regulations made under section 33 of the Police Act 1964, the qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of either sergeant or inspector is not eligible to take Part I of the qualifying examination for promotion to the rank in question.

(5) A person is not eligible without the leave of the examinations board to take Part I of the qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of sergeant or, as the case may be, inspector in any year if that person took Part I of that examination in the immediately preceding year and failed to obtain a pass in it.

(6) Part II of such a qualifying examination —

(a) may be taken only if a pass has been obtained in Part I, and

(b) unless the examinations board or persons acting on their behalf decide that in the circumstances of the particular case it may be taken on a later occasion, must be taken within 12 months after the Part I pass was obtained.

6.  Notwithstanding that a candidate for a Part of a qualifying examination referred to in paragraph 1(1) is eligible to take it, the examinations board or persons acting on their behalf may exclude him, or in an appropriate case may treat him as having withdrawn, from taking that Part on a particular occasion if —

(a) his candidature has not been submitted to the examinations board before the closing date mentioned in paragraph 4(b), or

(b) he fails to comply with the general or other arrangements made or approved by the examinations board or persons acting on their behalf.