Accessibility Statement
This accessibility statement applies to HM Government’s police recruitment website, www.joiningthepolice.co.uk.
This website is run by HM Government. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts.
- zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen.
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard.
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software.
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver).
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
Feedback and contact information
If you need a document we’ve published in a different format, please contact us:
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7035 4848
Textphone: 020 7035 4742 for Deaf and hard of hearing people
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact joiningthepolice@homeoffice.gov.uk with details of how we could improve.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
HM Government is committed to making www.joiningthepolice.co.uk accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Issue 1: WCAG 2.1 A success criteria 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (pre-recorded) and 1.2.5 Audio Description.
While pre-recorded videos on the website that we have produced have voiceovers for visually impaired people, captions for deaf people and options to view and/or download a transcript, the website does feature a video produced by external partner that does not currently have these options in place. This fails WCAG 2.1 A success criteria 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (pre-recorded) and 1.2.5 Audio Description. This issue applies to the following content:
- On the Role Spotlight – Detective page - https://www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/career-progression/role-spotlight-detective - we feature a video produced by an external partner which doesn’t feature captions for deaf people or the option to view or download a transcript. This fails WCAG 2.1 A success criteria 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (pre-recorded) and 1.2.5 Audio Description.
- Video on the homepage of Sunny Kaur Cheema is missing an audio description of the text and logos at the end of the video. This fails WCAG 2.1 A success criteria 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (pre-recorded) and 1.2.5 Audio Description.
- Video on the training and support page 'HM Government Police Recruitment campaign - Career progression' is missing audio description which describes the information shown at the start such as the name of the speaker and the title 'Career progression'. This fails WCAG 2.1 A success criteria 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (pre-recorded) and 1.2.5 Audio Description.
- We plan to either provide the option to view or download a transcript by end May 2023 or remove this video from the site.
Issue 2 - WCAG 2.4.4 Link purpose (in context)
- On the Home page Upcoming force recruitment events section, there are occasionally links that are not descriptive enough, e.g. 'Register for this event' rather than 'Register for the MPS online insight session'. This fails WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (in context). This is due to event content being uploaded to the site by a third party. We will review all link text supplied on a weekly basis and update as necessary on a weekly basis to make links descriptive.
- On the Upcoming Force Recruitment Events page, there are occasionally links that are not descriptive enough, e.g. 'Register for this event' rather than 'Register for the MPS online insight session'. This fails WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (in context). This is due to event content being uploaded to the site by a third party. We will review all link text supplied on a weekly basis and update as necessary on a weekly basis to make links descriptive.
Disproportionate burden
We consider it a disproportionate burden to incorporate audio descriptions into the audio stream of existing videos on the site. However, we will update video transcriptions to include a description of missing onscreen elements such as logos and end frame text, thereby allowing all users to get the same meaning from the video content or alternatively remove affected videos from the site. We plan to do this by end May 2023.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
None of the current content on the website falls outside of the scope of the accessibility regulations. We will ensure any new content added meets the regulations.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 14 March 2023. It was last reviewed on 14 April 2023.
This website was last tested between 12 and 25 October 2022. The test was carried out by the Government Digital Service. Different tests were completed to check against WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria. Testing was based on a sampling approach and limited to a fixed time period.