Police’s first ‘gender-f luid’ officer can work as a man OR a woman

A METROPOLITAN Police officer is being allowed to switch between male and female identities – while they are at work.

The transgender constable has been given permission to carry two warrant cards which are shown depending on whether they are using their male or female name.

The officer has been with the force for 13 years as a man but recently started turning up at work as a woman. Their full identity has not been disclosed to the public – but they use the first names Callum and Abi.

‘The first time I walked into a Met building as Abi I was hyperventilating so much I almost passed out,’ the officer told the Sun. ‘I’ve done it a handful of times since and felt so happy that I got to be me at work.

‘Abi is a part of me that exists and I want that part to be recognised and validated. but I’m still me. I’m still the same person whether I’m presenting as Callum or Abi. It’s the same dice – you’re just looking at a different number.’

The officer’s gender-fluid status is part of a diversity initiative in which Met officers are encouraged to ‘be themselves’.

A message to more than 43,000 police and civilian officers last week announced the scheme under the title ‘bring your Whole Self to Work’.

The officer added: ‘ being able to bring my whole self to work, to be Abi when I want to be Abi without having to hide who I am to do my day job, means I am more motivated...’

but Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville, who recently retired from the force, said: ‘ Senior officers constantly complain about lack of funding but there will always be enough to fill a diversity unit to run crazy schemes like this. Little wonder the public lose faith in the police.’

Earlier this month it emerged Northamptonshire Police were ditching traditional helmets for ‘gender neutral’ baseball caps.

The force said they were cheaper, safer and more comfortable, adding that unisex hats would also be preferable for recruits from the ‘ non- binary transgender community’.

And in April Dyfed- Powys Police in west Wales said they were issuing identical outfits to male and female officers to make transgender people more comfortable.

Referring to staff specifically as policemen or women was also being outlawed, while single sex toilets were being reviewed. In March, HSBC announced transgender customers could choose from ten gender-neutral titles including Mre, an abbreviation for mystery, Msr, which combines Miss and Sir, and Ind, for Individual. Royal bank of Scotland has ditched using mother’s maiden name as a security question because of the risk of offending non-traditional families.

‘I’m the same as Callum or Abi’