To think many women aren't suited to all police situations

[Dududud]

Moment police officer sobs after 'being punched at Manchester Airport' Police officer sobs

Vile the police officers were attacked by the media and by politicans. However, this is a seperate issuse - I don't think she should have been sent to deal with this in the first place.

Male and female officers each bring different strengths to the job — and that applies to personality types too. A male officer could just as easily take a hit and go down, same as anyone else. It’s not always about gender; it’s about the situation, temperament, and training. Personally, I’d prefer to see mixed teams — ideally pairing male and female officers together. It creates balance, offers a broader range of approaches, and gives the public the best of both worlds.

What happened at Manchester Airport was pure thuggery — no question. But let’s not use it to drag women back to the 70s and the old “WPC” mindset. We’ve moved on from the idea that women can’t handle the job. This is about tackling violent behaviour, not rolling back progress.

I think some men get a sort of vicarious masculinity through some jobs. The existence of "manly" jobs like being a soldier,.police officer, boxer,.truck driver, welder is a boost to the self esteem even though they don't actually do any of those jobs. Plus then, if someone brings up equal rights they can argue "equal rights equal fights. Women aren't campaigning for the right to be.in front line combat positions". Even though they did.

This is the crux of it. Perhaps we'd get more 'physically capable' people wanting to enter policing if they were given more discretion as to when they could actually use reasonable force, and a more sensible assessment of what 'reasonable and proportionate' constitutes when you're out fighting gangs in the streets. And if they had the confidence that the system would stand up for them in those situations.

As we've seen recently, even our armed police, who are only deployed where there is a credible threat of deadly violence, who are among our best trained operatives, can follow their training to the absolute letter, act perfectly within the parameters of the law and have their careers ruined and their names dragged through the mud as a result.

I suppose the flip side is the American system, where almost every law enforcement official can discharge a firearm with intent to kill based on 'reasonable belief' alone, even to stop someone fleeing in some situations. I'm not sure that's much better, but there has to be a middle ground.

Put the iron bar down now!
I warn you, i'm an emotionally strong women!

Wrt the crying - some of it was probably reflex tears- she'd had a hard bash in the face so the corneas probably knew something was going on and decided some irrigation was in order.
And some of it was probably stress. I was doing a bit of light googling after Rachel Reeves cried to see if it's nature or nurture that women cry more. Seems it's nature- prolactin levels which are higher in women activate the lacrimal glands. It's interpreted as mentally weak, because anything feminine has traditionally been considered weak but it probably shouldn't be considered any more significant than the naturally slighter higher resting heart rate in females.

Do any of you remember that Meg Ryan film Courage Under Fire? Complete fiction but quite an interesting premise. IIRC one witness initially gave their account that her character was an ice cool hero at all times. Another claimed that she was a snivelling, cowardly hot mess. The flashback to the truth was the last scenario- she was crying at one point, she wasn't Robocopping all over the place, she was scared but she got stuck in and got the job done.

Does anyone know if males or females get assigned to different jobs. The reason I am asking is because I was recently robbed. The criminals were in my home and I was with two children. The police were called and did not arrive. I had to leave and go to a relatives house. When they arrived the next day they apologised and said there were no suitable male officers due to a riot that happened. This made me wonder whether men/women are sent out to different jobs.

Responded to wrong message

I don't really think this is an example of a problem with a small female police officer.

I do think there are situations where a small female police officer alone would struggle. As do, sometimes, young green officers, or old fatties. So there are instances where it's important to send the right person for the job.

Insufficient numbers of officers can make that a problem in some instances.

I'd actually saw small and petite is a bigger issue for firefighters.

My stepdad (a man) took early retirement from the police for the psychological damage sustained having been attacked by a suspect at a scene. Very often a male police officer will be older or lighter or smaller than a suspect too. That’s why the police work as a team as well. Stop being so sexist and assume that a man wouldn’t be shaken by being physically attacked.

I see your point, but its all about risk management;

There are also situations where aggressive male officers would be at risk and counter productive.

The police needs all sorts, because they deal with all sorts in different situations.

I think mixed groups are likely quite effective.

I suppose some women aren't suited to all police situations, but some men arem't either.

There was a case in January this year where a mentally ill man in Fountain Valley California was confronted by a female officer who drew her weapon inappropriately, failed to protect it, and ended up letting the man take it from her. She then fell to pieces and her male colleague had to shoot the guy once he had the female officer's gun.

There was no need for her to draw her gun in the first place, but having done so she didn't protect it and let herself be disarmed. She had an opportunity to use the gun herself but failed to do so

I agree OP. We all saw this when Trump was shot and the security woman was too small to protect him

The internet is littered with videos of policewomen having their tasers taken off them by criminals.

I can think of scenarios where it would be absolutely more appropriate to send woman police officers into. Situations where male police officers who are not especially physically fit are fine.

Frontline policing in volatile situations is suited to fit, strong, men whose physical presence acts a deterrent. Their physicality is the deterrent that makes a situation less likely to start or escalate.

If the situation is violent they should have the back up of other physically strong, fit men - not have to take on the responsibility of trying to contain a violent offender while trying to protect a smaller, more physically vulnerable partner.

Their physical presence needs be the most effective deterrent in order to avoid or minimise physical confrontation and the need to use methods like tasering or sprays that can have unintended consequences. (Taken off them, situation escalation etc)

So why are you fixating on the woman to start your thread?

I completely agree with the op

I take the train into work and there are often policeman at the station

They are all huge. Over 6 ft and built like brick shithouses.

They have a different effect to what a small woman would have. It's just biology really.

It's weird that across social media there's loads of "debate'' whether women are suitable for policing after one female officer is crying after being punched in the face so hard it knocked her to ground and broke her nose.

But then you have Wayne Couzens, David Carrick, Timothy Brehmer, and literally dozens of men serving in police forces across the UK who rape and sexually assault women and children or who have indecent images of children. I could give you a list of dozen GMP officers convicted of these crimes in the last 5 years. Yet nobody says hmmm maybe men shouldn't be in the police because they apparently can't even police themselves and pose a threat.

Rage bait right?

I agree op. I have also seen male police officers die after being shot. They are not suited for a job. /s
And more importantly some men, some policemen in fact have committed sexual assaults (so they are solely responsible) and yet no one has called for all men to not be police officers. Or have you up? What gives up?
So if women can't be police officers, God forbid you are sexually assaulted by a man (a most common occurrence). Would you be ok going to a man for evidence collection etc

That's what I have essentially asked op. This woman is not responsible for getting hit. Cousins and Co are solely responsible for their actions. Let's see what op comes back with

For me it isn't a sex thing, it is a capability thing.

For officers who will likely deal with violent situations - they should be required to be physically strong and capable. Large, trained in combat/ability to defend/protect, mobile/fit etc.

Man or woman doesn't matter. A smaller woman or man, or a fat/unhealthy or untrained woman or man - combat/fight training etc.

Of course more men would fit this requirement than woman, but some woman will, and should absolutely be encouraged to do the job.

As long as they can pass the tests of physical capability (which should be much higher than at present) then they should be in. Regardless of sex.

I think you need to spend a day with some female officers.

I work in social work and interface with police a few times a week, as I am working with people post prison on parole etc. These women hold their own easily with the men and I wouldn't be arguing with anyone holding a taser or a firearm regardless but I'm in Aus where our cops are armed to the teeth don't know about UK cops

No. There may only be 2 of them going out - same as response

As a Police Despatcher id say No. Makes no difference who's crewing a car if a call comes in. In fact when im assigning a crew it doesn't even cross my mind to look at who's in it. First available car goes.

If its something like an ongoing fight I'll send more than one car regardless of who's crewing the lead car.

That was a very odd comment for them to make