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]

this is from 2011
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/all-sellafield-police-authorised-to-carry-firearms-1.871693

[Ken4155]

Why would trained armed personnel not be issued with 'personal' weapons. I was in the army for 7 years and kept the same SLR throughout. Signed out when needed, cleaned and signed back in when not. And, on tours of Northern Ireland, never left my sight for the duration of that tour.

[emmie]

one wonders whether this was a case of get rid, as opposed to get the women concerned the right equipment

[andy-hughes]

Apart from the usual sexist nonsense dressed up as 'humour' by some posters - or twenty-four carat sexism, depending if you wish to give them the benefit of the doubt or not -

this was clearly a discrimination case - there was an option to provide these candidates with correct equipment, and that option was not exercised, hence the case was found proven.

With regard to the original question '... why isn't there certain qualifications a person should reach before being accepted in certain positions in the police service?'

There are qualifications, and the ladies in question obviously passed them, otherwise they would not have been in the Armed Unit in the first place.

This was a skill test for existing officers, not a recruitment day when they were found unsuitable.

As the vast majority of posters accept - the case was valid, and its victory was the correct option.

For all those who want to try and make a case for women being 'unsuitable for men's work' - you will need to find another platform - this one clearly fails to support the weight of your views.

[RATTER15]

Well said andy-hughes!!

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Oh, and before any man says, "Phwoar...I wouldn't mind being saved by that", in my analogy, she looks like Anne Widdecombe. ///

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

[emmie]

she may not be, but she was quite a smart woman. she would have done well in other spheres of business i am sure.

[ummmm]

AOG - how is it sexist to not find a female attractive?

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// AOG - how is it sexist to not find a female attractive? ///

I never said that, but I did say it was rude to criticise Anne Whitcombe

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps the fire service should issue ladders with smaller steps so that petite fire officers can reach the steps?

[anotheoldgit]

Chewn

/// Applicants wishing to join the Fire service have to pass certain tests AOG. One of which is ladder carrying and lifting in full uniform. If they can carry the ladder, I'm sure they can climb it. ///

Blimey is that right', l those turn table ladders must weigh a few tons?

[bentaxle]

Many years ago talking to a electrician who told me they had a young girl working with them 'very good in the panel shop but couldn't bend 20 mm conduit so they made an adjustment ,she did the panels and the men did the conduit Now would that be sex discrimination or common sense

[anotheoldgit]

Seeing the size of some female police officers I bet there has to be some adjustment to the standard protective clothing?

[emmie]

common sense.

[anotheoldgit]

Chew

/// Do you ever get the house AOG and see the real world in action?
A standard fire engine carries 4 ladders of differing lengths. ///

I presume that I've seen more of the world in action (as you put it) than you have ever seen.

Don't be so touchy it was a joke.

[emmie]

i am sure that women who join the fire service much like the armed services face lots of prejudice, it's one of the reasons that many women won't sign up to do these type of jobs they know they will get a lot of flak.