MP's comments about female police 'out of touch'

An MP's claim that female police officers should be accompanied on the beat by "great big, strapping male" ones have been described as "offensive and insulting".

Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, also said in BBC Radio 5 Live interview that female officers should be deployed to "more sensitive situations" involving children and domestic abuse.

The chairperson of the Cheshire Police Federation, Jamie Thompson, said to suggest female officers "are only suited to one type of job is ludicrous" and "so out of touch with modern-day policing".

Pochin said she believed female officers on the beat in pairs "looked vulnerable".

'Diverse occupation'

In the interview, broadcast on Monday, Pochin said: "I never feel comfortable actually seeing two female police officers together.

"I'd much rather see a great big strapping male police officer with a female.

"I think they look vulnerable.

"I think that we do need to be aware of our police being able to protect us that's what they're there for."

In response, Mr Thompson said policing was a diverse occupation which needed "all sorts of people from across society" and that Pochin's comments were "something I absolutely reject".

"I would invite Sarah Pochin to come and spend some time with my colleagues on the beat, and see what we actually get up to on a day-to-day basis," he said.

"I think she would be surprised how much all our colleagues, regardless of their gender, get involved in every single day.

"Just a few months ago, we were celebrating the most courageous Cheshire Police officers at our Bravery Awards.

"We heard about both male and female officers who had saved lives while out on the beat. This happens up and down the country every single minute of every single day."