Force faces discrimination claims

Strathclyde Police rejected eight candidates with the condition

Scotland's largest police force could face a number of sex discrimination cases following a row over the rejection of colourblind recruits.

Strathclyde Police rejected eight candidates in the last two years for having a form of colourblindness usually only found in men.

But a landmark legal case in England found that a colourblind officer faced indirect sexual discrimination.

Candidates may now use the precedent to seek thousands in compensation.

Robin Dixon was one candidate who was turned down by Strathclyde Police.

His family hoped that the precedent set by the tribunal against Hertfordshire Constabulary could be used in Scotland.

He has been made to feel that he is a total liability and we are considering pursuing this as a sexual discrimination case Marie Dixon

His mother Marie Dixon, from East Kilbride, said: "This has been a David versus Goliath case, with the country's largest force digging their heels in.

"There is something very wrong here when the force rejects candidates despite the evidence.

"His condition means that he only has problems differentiating between shades of green. He is distraught that he has not been accepted after being suitable in every other way.

"He has been made to feel that he is a total liability and we are considering pursuing this as a sexual discrimination case."

Mr Dixon took his rejection to an employment tribunal but his complaint against Strathclyde Police was rejected on a technicality as it was time-barred.

Robin Dixon was found to have a colour vision deficiency

His application was rejected despite being told by Ch Insp Douglas Campbell that he would have made a good constable.

Lynn Welsh, the Disability Rights Commission's head of Scottish legal affairs, called for clarification over the issue of colourblind recruits.

She said: "There is an issue around whether colourblindness is a disability or not under the Disability Discrimination Act.

"It depends on whether it has a substantial long-term effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and so any reasonable adjustments made under the DDA would depend on the individual concerned."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said that they could not comment on specific cases, such as Mr Dixon's, because he had lodged an employment tribunal appeal.