Firearms Officer Wins Sex Discrimination Case Because Her Firearm Was Too Big For Her.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10643338/Petite-firearms-officer-wins-sex-discrimination-case-because-gun-was-too-big-for-her-hands.html

Well this just about takes the biscuit, why isn't there certain qualifications a person should reach before being accepted in certain positions in the police service?

[emmie]

divebuddy, were you a firefighter, so speak from experience/

[andy-hughes]

Ratter - "Well said andy-hughes!!"

Thanks Ratter - much appreciated!!

[emmie]

the way this has gone, i am amazed women got the vote, let alone make a contribution to Britain.

[emmie]

i just asked you if you were a firefighter, i don't need to look anything up
i should imagine that it's a very tough job, so are many, and women worked quite well in munitions factories, on the land, or as air raid wardens in the war, so sure some were used to lugging heavy pieces of kit.

[emmie]

the worse problem with regards to fitness is in the police force, most of the plods i see are fatties, who could do with some much needed diet advice, and a regime of walking the streets and not sitting in a police car munching on buns and coffee. They do a dangerous job, or at least many do, but no one really questions their level of fitness, but they should

[pixie373]

Divebuddy, why are you so obsessed with the separate gun issue? Do you think it only affects one person? Surely the obvious solution is just to have two sizes- not difficult. And men and women will be more effective with the right equipment. Or are you suggesting a smaller gun can't be lethal?
Jomifl had it on page 1, it's exactly what I've said on other threads. Because of "tradition" EVERYTHING is designed with men in mind. From business to fighting, and for women to fit in, they have to try to be men. That is not what we want and isn't necessary. Maybe they should only make the boots in size 4 and watch the men complain...

[sp1814]

AOG

"And you accuse others of being sexist, that is being very rude towards someone who is not gifted in the looks department"

That's because I think that Anne Widdecombe is a rotten human being.

But aside from that, I imagine she would look pretty horrible topless. I could've put someone else's name in there, but I couldn't think of someone who is equally ugly on the inside as they are on the outside.

[sp1814]

And I notice this passed you by:

"It's a bit like women on the frontline in the army, they shouldn't be in this role

She'd be better off working in the Police canteen"

Odd that, eh?

[emmie]

why do you say she is ugly on the inside, i have never found her so... but then again, i only really viewed her when she was a politician.

[LazyGun]

Women only comprise around 3% of UK firefighters. These are the entry level fitness requirements for both men and women;

http://www.fireservice.co.uk/recruitment/physical

Which seem pretty reasonable to me, although given the increasing level of obesity they could perhaps do with upping the 55 Kg drag weight a tad. Things change; The weight of ladders changes. Nothing is fixed in stone. Of more concern to firefighters is the fitness levels amongst older firefighters. The level of firefighters failing the existing fitness levels far exceeds the 3% of women firefighters, so concerns over women adversely affecting fitness levels would seem unwarranted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24111259

Back to the firearms; It makes far more sense to adjust the grips of the pistol where appropriate, rather than inferring that women should not be doing the job because their hands are too small for the job.

[sp1814]

Just some things she has said about gay relationships. And how she battled against the Civil Partnership Act.

Not just abstained, but fought tooth and nail against against the right of gay couples to have any form of security or state recognition.

To a certain extent, I can understand the argument against marriage equality (especially from those with strong religious convictions), but when someone has such a virulent anti-gay voting record in Parliament, and who argued against Michael Portillo when he said (as Shadow Chancellor), that the Tories should not be closed off to gay members...that she didn't agree with "social tolerance" of gay people.

I know that we should accommodate different views, but like Muslim clerics who preach against gay people, I honestly think that Miss Widdecombe can go Phuket herself.

[emmie]

come on don't blame women for men's failure to keep their weight down, most of the women police officers i see are not fatties, the likelihood is that sitting in a police car half the time or more doesn't help with getting exercise.

[sp1814]

divebuddy

Just thought of something...

The police service from 50 years ago, even 25 years ago faced a completely different environment than the police service of today.

Much more chasing after bank robbers perhaps, and a lot less intelligence-led work.

I wonder whether police have to have the same fitness levels that they did in the days of The Sweeney? Perhaps with CCTV, DNA databases mobile intelligence units etc...police have to have to have more muscle between their ears, than around their thighs?

Really badly worded, but I think you know what I'm getting at.

[emmie]

i didn't misunderstand, you are saying that they lower the standards to attract women into the service, surely they should all have a decent level of fitness.

[emmie]

i know that she is deeply religious, so perhaps that is her reasoning.