A BEAUTY queen and former prison officer who uses her platform to raise awareness about mental health discrimination has slammed Lancashire Police claiming she was rejected from the force because she takes anti-depressant medication.
Eleanor Sophie applied for the role of detective as part of Lancashire Constabulary’s detective pathway in 2021 and, following a vigorous year-long selection process in which she passed every stage, she was given a conditional offer of employment on the proviso that she passed her medical exam.
She was invited to attend a medical in October 2022, however, Eleanor was told she had failed the assessment and claims she was “turned away immediately after disclosing she took anti-depressants”, a medication she had been on since she was 16 to help control her anxiety.
Eleanor said Lancashire Police “discriminated against her because of her mental health”, despite their website stating they assess each applicant applying to the force on a “case-by-case basis”.
Lancashire Police said their medical process, “follows the nationally agreed medical standards”, and that the force medical advisor consults all individuals during the medical process to “understand and obtain all the facts for consideration prior to a decision being made”.
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The force also stated that it “looks at each case individually to fully understand the background and contributing factors, however, we have a duty of care to the communities, colleagues, and the officer to ensure they are medical and mentally fit to carry out the critical policing duties required of our officers”.
Eleanor, who is originally from Kent but has lived in St Helens for the last eight years, said: “I was offered the role of detective as part of their detective pathway.
“After a year of interviews, fitness tests, etc, I went to the medical and was turned away immediately after disclosing I took anti-depressants.
“Despite their website stating they assess people on ‘a case-by-case basis’, I can confirm it absolutely is not.
“I have used anti-depressants since I was 16 for anxiety. My doctor had no concerns, and I was given multiple character references.
“I find this behaviour disgusting and hypocritical, given that Lancashire Constabulary has signed the Mind UK and Blue Light Time to Change pledge, which aims to campaign against mental health discrimination and stigma.”
Eleanor was a serving prison officer at the time she applied for Lancashire Constabulary and had been for four years, and says her role there was “arguably the most similar job to the police”.
But the 26-year-old claims that as soon as the medical officer looked at her medical record and saw the anti-depressants, he told her, “You are not mentally fit for this role. If you really want this job, come off them apply again in three years”.
Eleanor, who also has no criminal record or any financial debts, appealed Lancashire Constabulary’s decision twice, but was rejected on both occasions with the force upholding its decision to reject her application.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “Our medical process follows the nationally agreed medical standards, and our force medical advisor (FMA) will have a consultation with the individual during the medical process to understand and obtain all the facts for consideration prior to a decision being made.
“In Lancashire we do look at each case individually to fully understand the background and contributing factors, however, we have a duty of care to the communities, colleagues, and the officer to ensure they are medical and mentally fit to carry out the critical policing duties required of our officers.
“We have built-in appeals process whereby if the individual was to appeal the decision of the FMA, an independent panel consisting of a senior HR manager, senior operational police officer, a health and safety officer, a senior representative from learning and development and an independent medical professional.
“This is laid out in our own force medical standards policy.”
Eleanor said she thought about applying to another police force, but in the end decided not to pursue it.
She went on: “I asked Merseyside if I could transfer my application to them and they said this was ok.
“I was asked to attend for interview, but I cancelled, and decided not to pursue the application in the end as didn’t want to put myself through it all over again.
“I now compete in beauty pageants and I’m currently the UK’s National Miss Merseyside 23/24 and my platform is all about raising awareness about mental health discrimination and stigma, especially when it comes to mental health treatment and medication.
“I’m currently running a campaign called #StandUpToStigma and raising money for Mind UK.”
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