POLICE forces are choosing experience over youth by recruiting trainees in their forties and fifties. A new “grey brigade” is being hired to ensure that constables have some experience of life outside the force before pounding the beat.

It is believed that middle-aged PCs, some only a few years from retirement, are more rounded employees and better equipped to deal with members of the public.

Since the upper age limit of 30 was relaxed, the oldest new recruit so far is Mary Thomson, 47, in the central Scotland force. Other forces, including Lothian and Borders and Strathclyde, have also employed constables in their forties. Some forces have been happy to interview applicants in their fifties, although nobody over 50 has yet been employed.

“I’d been thinking about applying for some time but thought my age would be against me,” said Thomson, who is undergoing training at the police college at Tulliallan, Fife. “I didn’t believe I would be accepted, but my situation proves that people should apply even if they think they’re too old. My age is a positive — I think I’m more able to take things in my stride than when I was younger.”

Constable Bob Martinus, 44, was a manager at a semiconductor plant before joining the Lothian and Borders force.

“I’d been toying with the idea of joining the police for over 10 years but the low starting salary put me off,” said Martinus, who worked out at a gym before sitting his fitness test. “Then my priorities changed and I wanted a challenge and some security.

I feel the police service meet these and the challenges are better than I dreamt of.”

The decision to scrap the upper age limit followed the abolition of strict standards on height and eyesight, which precluded large numbers of potential applicants. Since then the average age of new recruits has shot up from 19 to 27.

Last week the Scottish Police Federation revealed that up to 50% of officers in Scotland — about 7,500 — will depart over the next four years, leaving a gaping hole in expertise and experience in police ranks.

The problem stems from a massive influx of new recruits in 1978 after a wide-ranging review of pay and conditions. Many will have done 30 years’ service in 2008 and will be eligible to retire.

“That is a crunch year when we’re going to lose large numbers of people,” said David Garbutt, director of the Scottish Police College. “We’ve reduced the age levels because we’re fighting in a shrinking pool of resources. Years ago the focus was on a long-term, single-employment career, but that has changed.

“People who now join have a different attitude to their career than they did years ago, in that they are prepared to take on a job and move on within a couple of years without thinking twice about it. It is of concern to senior officers.”

According to Garbutt, the latest move will allow forces to “tap into” a larger pool of potential recruits.

Senior officers say mature people can bring a range of attributes to the role that are often lacking in junior recruits. These include a sense of community, an ability to relate to people of all ages and a calm and confident approach to problems commonly faced by officers.

However, senior officers have cautioned that since the mandatory retirement age for constables is 55, forces will have to assess how much “value for money” they will get from older recruits who may serve only a few years.

“Like any organisation, we’re being more flexible. People in their forties can offer a lot to the service, although maybe not for as long,” said Tom Wood, deputy chief constable of Lothian and Borders police. “It’s seeing what qualities individuals have. The service is continually trying to be as attractive an employer as it can be.”

Norrie Flowers, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, added: “Until recently there was an age limit, but that was considered ageist in this modern world. I’d imagine people as old as 50 would be accepted, but they will still have to conform to the joining requirements.

“Older people have more life experience and that prepares them for some of the challenges the job throws at them.”

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