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All new constables in the Metropolitan police must be able to speak a second language apart from English from today.

The astonishing requirement emerged in an advert for fresh recruits posted online by the country's biggest force.

From today, anyone wanting to join the Met must be able to speak English and one of the following 14 languages:

• Yoruba (Nigeria)

• Hebrew

• Arabic

• Hindi

• Punjabi

• Italian

• German

• Turkish

• Greek

• Spanish

• Polish

• Portuguese

• Sinhali (Sri Lanka)

• Bengali



In a press release, the Met said the requirement is a one-month 'pilot' scheme designed to "bring officers into the Met with more of the skills necessary to help police and engage with London's diverse communities as effectively as possible."

However, the Met does not specify that the new qualification is temporary on its website.

In fact, the Careers page makes it clear that anyone who does not speak one of the specified languages is "unable to submit an application".

The only reference to a 'one-month trial' was made in a quietly-issued press release at 1am today.

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has also come under fire for the 14 languages chosen for his list - when by his own admission almost 300 are spoken in London.

Critics questioned why key languages including Gujurati, Mandarin and Romanian aren't on there - but German is.

Andrew Boff, leader of the Conservatives in the London Assembly, described the list as "bizarre".

He told the Mirror: "I just don't understand what this list of languages is supposed to achieve.

"It looks as if it's been made up at random.

"Chinese Mandarin is not on there when we know that statistically they are one of the groups most likely to be victims of crime in London.

"And there are others - where I live, Lithuanian is the most spoken language.

"Why on earth is German on there? I'm sure there are Germans living in London but they are likely to speak good English.

"Not even Germans like speaking German!

"This list clearly needed a bit more thought.

"I support the idea of a police force that looks like London - but I don't think having a second language should be a condition of application.

"Why not make it a general recommendation?"

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe said: "I am committed to providing a police service which looks and feels more like London.

"We know that almost 300 languages are spoken in the capital. We need to recruit and deploy officers with second languages in areas where those languages are spoken.

"I believe it will help boost confidence, help to solve crime more effectively and support victims and witnesses."