Police have been ordered to stop calling short colleagues “laptops” in case it offends.
The jokey term – slang for “small PCs” – became popular after a 5ft 8in minimum height requirement for constables was ditched in the 1990s.
But it is now outlawed by the West Midlands force after bosses declared the term insensitive. One former officer said: “The word came down from on high that it was discriminatory. The shorter officers are excellent and to my knowledge they found the nickname as funny as the rest of us.”
The force has gained attention before over its equality rules. Last year it advertised for an “assistant director of fairness and belonging” on a £74,000 salary – double a PC’s pay.
It faced criticism for pandering to trainees alarmed by flashing blue lights and for letting a rookie cop take his giant snail to work in a box to calm his nerves.
West Midlands Police said: “Officers and staff are expected to uphold the highest standards and values and challenge any unreasonable and discriminatory behaviour.”
