Police eyesight requirements (FOI)

​Request

Could you please let me know of the specific eyesight requirements to join the States of Jersey Police? I could only find the rather vague phrasing, ‘good eyesight’ when I tried to check online.

Response

Eyesight Standards: Police Recruitment

The standard of eyesight which must be met by a candidate for appointment to a police force in respect of each of the matters specified in the first column of the following table is that specified in the second column of the table.

Eyesight  Mandatory requirement

Static visual acuity i  

Corrected distance visual acuity must be 6/12 in either eye and 6/6 or better, binocularly.

Corrected near static visual acuity must be 6/9 or better, binocularly. [Applicants who do not reach the standard should not be rejected but should be invited for a further test after obtaining a stronger prescription].

Corrected low contrast distance visual acuity must be 6/12 or better for a 10% contrast target, binocularly.

Visual field ii  

A field-of-view of at least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically is required. The field-of-view should be free of any large defective areas, particularly in the fovea. Single defects smaller than the physiological blind spot, and multiple defects that add to an area smaller than the physiological blind spot, should be acceptable.

Colour vision iii  

Monochromats should be rejected.
Mild anomalous trichromats are acceptable and should be treated as normals.
Severe anomalous trichromats and dichromats are also acceptable and should be instructed in coping strategies.

[Applicants who show a lowered discrimination for blue colours should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further assessment. This should include a measure of their dark adaptation performance].

Spectacles and contact lenses  

Correction should be worn where necessary to achieve 6/6 binocularly. Corrective spectacles and contact lenses are acceptable for the tasks of an operational police constable.

Eye surgery

PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS, cataract surgery: There is no significant weakening of the cornea and applicants should not be rejected. A period of at least 6 weeks after surgery should be allowed before applications are accepted. There may be a reduction in low light level visual performance:
Test visual performance under low illuminance conditions.
Radial Keratotomy (RK), Arcuate Keratotomy (AK), corneal.