PC Robin Port is believed to be Britain's smallest policeman..the 5ft constable said he was able to catch very big criminals off guard by tackling their legs.
For years most forces in Britain stipulated that male officers had to be close to 6ft. Forces gradually relaxed their restrictions and there are now no minimum height requirements.
At a media briefing today Port said: "When it comes to jokes about being short I have heard them all before. I've heard the odd comment from the public but most of them come from people who are drunk and incoherent.
"I have learned that if people want to make an offensive comment towards a police officer they will find something to pick on, be it too short, too tall or having ginger hair or glasses.
"I am very confident I can hold my own. I have martial arts training so I don't see myself as more at risk than any other police officer. I've got quite a thick skin which is a requirement in this job. The uniform still carries with it a lot of authority. In a situation where I might be faced with a huge, 7ft bloke, their size also makes them vulnerable as I could sweep their legs out."
He praised the force for taking him on. "I like to think my presence in the force says a lot about the police policy on discrimination, in that a person is recruited on their merit and not to fulfil quotas. PC Port said he felt the fact he had been able to join the police was proof the force had "modernised in its opinions "This bloke is just going to get sooooooooo much hassle
Can't you just foresee a compo claim in a few years time
