This was the hot topic with the publication of the new Ordinance for access to the Agent Training Course, which generated some controversy and discussion around the extension of the access age to 35 years of age, being the target of severe, and I would say respectable, criticism from several PSP unions. But it wasn’t so much that that made us write about this topic, rather a piece of news that I read recently in the newspaper “The Herald” which highlighted, with great concern, the massive departure of more than 1700 Police Officers from the Scottish Police, in just over 2 years.
Unfortunately, the phenomenon of decoupling (or turnover) and the abrupt drop in police recruitment levels has been a topic in most Western countries, increasing concerns about what to do to reverse the phenomenon, aware of the tremendous damage it will cause to public security in these countries.
But, making a previous point, and as we said, open and understanding with all the criticisms that were made regarding the measure registered by the Government after negotiation, which was in fact below the age that the SNOP (National Union of Police Officers) proposed, which would go up to 40 years old as a general criterion, and 45 years old for workers working in the public administration, we do not consider this change, or another that would extend the age limits, to be a solution to the problem.
It can mitigate, it is true, as it expands the recruitment universe, but it is far from getting to the root of the problems, as there is much more that needs to be done, simultaneously and subsequently. Regarding the issue of age, height and physical tests, we decided to do an extensive tour of several Western countries to understand whether the decision is completely flawed or whether, on the contrary, it even follows comparative panoramas.
But let’s go by points, regarding age: Spain has a limit of 40 years for Civil Guard and there is a limit (which is basically a non-limit) which is the retirement age for the National Police; France already presents 45 years for the Police Nationale and 35 for Gendarmerie; in England and other countries in the United Kingdom there is no age limit; in Ireland the limit is 50 years; in Austria there is no limit, in Germany the limit is 30 years, as in Italy for all police forces; and, finally, in the USA, it has values that vary from state to state, but ranging between 40 years and no limit.
What do we take away from here? That Portugal is still far from the minimum values that almost all of the countries mentioned have set in their access regulations. And as for the height, which, for the most inattentive, did not disappear in the new diploma, because it did not already exist in the previous one, referring, rather, under the terms of article 11, no. 5, to an order to be issued by the National Director of the PSP, how do other countries deal with the issue?
In Spain, there were minimum limits until a few years ago, but in the meantime these limits have fallen, with priority being given to physical robustness and its adaptation to the function, except for specific internal functions for which minimum ceilings are required; in the same sense, France has abolished height limits since 2020, as has the United Kingdom since 2017, Italy in 2016, Austria and Australia also in the recent past; The USA still has some states that require minimum limits, although the tendency is to disappear, following the majority’s lead.
Portugal therefore remains, with regard to security forces, outside the Western majority, which has dropped the issue of age, preferring to globally evaluate candidates in terms of their robustness and aptitude for the role based on other parameters that do not include height as a discriminatory factor. Are we the only ones who take the right step?
Regarding physical tests, all the countries we analyzed attribute, like Portugal, an eliminatory nature to physical tests, even though it seems to us that they are more functionally oriented towards measuring the minimum physical conditions of candidates, which do not give them safe conduct during the course, as they are subject to rigorous tests and training in order to confirm that they have obtained the minimum physical capacity to be a Police Officer.
I must bring to the table the example of the Army in Portugal, which since 2017 has dropped the eliminatory nature of the tests, noting the performance of candidates in a quantitative way and within the scope of other tests and entrance exams. Now, at this level, it seems to us, based on the examples of comparative systems that we analyzed, that the tests should be readjusted, to a smaller number, and with a more functional configuration that assesses the agility, resistance and strength necessary to perform the police function, admitting that the review of their eliminatory nature must exist, establishing, as an example, exclusion when eliminated in two or more tests and/or assigning a quantitative classification, similar to the example of the Army.
I think we managed, in this way, to mirror in a very clear way the direction that other countries have followed, or been forced to follow, to try to mitigate the tremendous drop in candidates, without this having to go through, as seems to be already happening in other countries, namely in the USA, with a lowering of educational levels for access to the profession, which would impact, we have no doubt, the quality of candidates. Now, it is important to understand that the enlargement measure is not that shocking, following several examples out there, and that, even with more than 35 years of age, we may have very valid candidates, with tremendous experience, who can (also) make a difference.
But, returning to the initial idea, any of these changes will not constitute a lifeline per sehaving to be designed and applied in competition with other measures.
Things as simple as having a multi-annual admissions map previously fixed is essential; Consider the implementation of technical-professional courses that are oriented towards the police function, facilitating the bridge and transition from secondary education to secondary education. [futuro] police polytechnic education; consider granting certain benefits to successful candidates who obtain approval at the end of the course; easier access to scholarships for police officers; granting social support and easier access to daycare for unsupported police families, among many other measures.
In conclusion, neither age nor height will solve the Police’s problems, but something has to be done, otherwise it will head towards disaster. This was a timid step, let us hope and demand that others follow.