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Police size does matter

Vic Barlow
28/ 3/2007

APPARENTLY Cheshire Police are considering smaller handguns and lighter motorbikes to attract women into more macho policing units.

Why? There are lots of situations where size and strength are irrelevant, but tough front line policing isn't one of them.

If my surgeon, bank manager or boss happens to be a 5ft, seven stone lady it's fine by me, but if I'm being beaten to a pulp by a madman I want the first bobby's boot I see to be a size 12.

Of course there are lots of important roles within the emergency services for women but can't we be a little more practical, and what about those women that are big and strong enough to match their male counterparts?

How humiliated will they feel if standards are lowered?

Where does it end? Do we introduce police poodles because German Shepherds are too big or have mounted police riding Shetland ponies?

Most of the policewomen I know are tough as hell and don't need any concessions. God knows what they'll make of this patronising twaddle.

• THE views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express.