Do the police discriminate against white, male, able-bodied applicants?

THE case of Matthew Furlong, whose application to join Cheshire police was turned down because he is a white, heterosexual male without a disability (Mail), is not the first case to be won on discrimination grounds. Years ago, when an applicant won an out-of-court settlement against Avon & Somerset police, the chief constable admitted it had been unlawful to select applicants solely on the grounds of race and sex. The same year, 185 other white male candidates had been rejected, but it is not known how many of them claimed discrimination. This policy of selection on race and gender, instead of suitability and character, has been going on for at least 30 years. It started with

Home Office directives supported by the Labour Party and was continued by the Conservatives. Little wonder the country is in such a state with crime on the up, police stations closed and burglaries and shoplifting not being investigated. JOHN WARREN, Wolverhampton, W. Mids. THIS recruitment policy shows why the police aren’t as highly regarded as in the past. It appears they’re prepared to take on anyone other than the best. JAMES VELLA, Liverpool. MY WHITE, heterosexual son without a disability was turned down by Lincolnshire Fire Service on the same basis as Matthew Furlong. TERENCE P. O’HALLORAN, Lincoln. I AM all for women getting top jobs, but shouldn’t the best qualified be appointed, regardless of gender? ALISON LESLIE, Heath and Reach, Beds. THE Matthew Furlong case reminded me of when my brother, a former Marine, was rejected by the Suffolk force for being a quarter of an inch too short. He was accepted by Essex and had a successful career. DAPHNE WARNER, Harwich, Essex. HERTFORDSHIRE Constabulary must have too many officers if it can afford to send one to investigate a car parked on a pavement. It can’t find the resources to investigate an assault on my son, but pulls out all the stops for a trivial incident. If it sent an officer for every parking infringement in my area, no other crimes would be investigated. Name and address supplied.