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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fat policemen

141 replies

SirBragalot · 20/05/2020 19:42

AIBU to think that anyone who joins the police force should be fighting fit?
Last weekend I was walking home from shopping when a skinny guy whizzed past me at lightning speed. He was obviously running from someone. I turned around and saw two policemen chasing after him. Both of them were overweight. They were struggling to keep up and were out of breath. So I thought, good luck with catching skinny! It was not the first time I saw policemen carrying extra weight. What is going on? How are they supposed to catch up with members of the criminal underworld who are usually skinny, fit and run like cheetahs?

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/05/2020 20:03

Yep, there is some overweight police officer, not usually that many though. You are quite correct.

Although being skinny didn’t mean you are a natural runner.

And it’s not often you have to run anyway.

FizzyGreenWater · 20/05/2020 20:03

This totally happened.

OP, was there a kind of parp-parp trombone music suddenly playing out of nowhere too?

Mangofandangoo · 20/05/2020 20:03

Not everyone joins the police force to be a police man. They all have to do a two year probation period before they can apply for internal transfer, perhaps to major crime or literally any other department - so maybe they have passed the fitness test but being mr muscle isn't top of their agenda

MouthBreathingRage · 20/05/2020 20:04

Bite me

I can’t decide if this is a challenge or not. It’s tempting, but I might get fatter by doing so, @mumsonthenet.

Thisseatisnotavailable · 20/05/2020 20:04

The only time I've ever seen a police foot chase is on TV.

Finfintytint · 20/05/2020 20:05

The police fitness test is a notoriously insufficient way of testing fitness. They have other tools in their armour. Fat fuckers will still be police officers. They can still deal with offenders by a whole host of other means.

Ohtherewearethen · 20/05/2020 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SpillTheTeaa · 20/05/2020 20:06

Will you mind those fat police men coming to your rescue? Thought not.

Gingerkittykat · 20/05/2020 20:06

There is a weight limit for joining, I know someone in the recruitment process right now and she will have to lose 12lb to get herself to the maximum weight. I think the weight limit must be reasonably high since she is around a size 18 to 20 now so will still be overweight if she joins.

crustycrab · 20/05/2020 20:06

Bite me 🙈

Grow up

DontStandSoCloseToMe · 20/05/2020 20:07

How many offenders do you think are caught by chasing them? Most police investigations particularly for more serious offences require brain power rather than a fast time over 100m.
You seem to have gathered your research on police work from the Beano.

SpillTheTeaa · 20/05/2020 20:07

Mumsofthenet
The only burden is you. Bite me.

Toilenstripes · 20/05/2020 20:07

Sorry for my insensitive comment.

user1495884620 · 20/05/2020 20:08

Assuming for a moment that this is serious and not goady...I have worked in confrontational roles in the past (not police). I would a million times rather be working with a colleague that can calm down a situation and talk the "customer" into complying than one that is fit enough to chase them down and rugby tackle them.

Mangofandangoo · 20/05/2020 20:09

@mumsonthenet I'm not overweight but even I am offended by your comments

GinDaddyRedux · 20/05/2020 20:12

Why is @SirBragalot and dozens of other posters, spending so much time worrying about what other people do in their jobs and whether they're fit for what they do?

For goodness sakes...you'd think people had enough to worry about right now. But oh no, let's indulge in the national pasttime of lets-make-things-better-by-criticising-others.

Police persons make arrests. They don't spend every day dealing with skinny sprinters. You saw one incident and made a thing of it, came on here to have a bash at another public service profession and its employees.

This whole "let's have a pop at anyone paid through our taxes" is so tiresome. I'm already dismayed and bored by the teacher bashing threads, and now we have this.

For clarification in case the usual comeback, I work for an investment bank. So nope, no dog in this race.

CoffeeRunner · 20/05/2020 20:13

What do you think should happen if a Police Officer gains weight after being appointed? Should they immediately be sacked? How would that work? What % weight increase would trigger automatic dismissal? Do they get a chance to lose the weight first? Or is it automatic dismissal.

Dreeple · 20/05/2020 20:15

I know a fat old policeman.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 20/05/2020 20:20

Grin @ my comment being deleted but @mumsonthenet being left to stand. Great work @MNHQ. Clearly in the ball as usual Hmm

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 20/05/2020 20:21

Some turds about today.

iklboo · 20/05/2020 20:23

@ChandlerIsTheBestFriend - it's gone now.

Redglitter · 20/05/2020 20:23

Wow. Lots of police bashing threads recently, although this is a new one on me

A double bonus this delightful thread isnt it Police & fatbashing combined.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 20/05/2020 20:26

Rightly so.

SoleBizzz · 20/05/2020 20:29

I used to love The Fastshow

SoleBizzz · 20/05/2020 20:29

I love the Police. They're amazing and courageous.