West Midlands Police has recruited Britain's first one-legged cop. The officer recently completed his extensive training at Tally Ho! in Birmingham. The radical move is expected to be copied by other forces once far-reaching new anti-discrimination laws come into force in October. Cops have previously been exempt from the Disability Discrimination Act, but that will change this autumn - potentially opening the floodgates to new disabled recruits. The policeman, who has not been named, is believed to wear a prosthetic limb and has recently completed his training at Tally Ho!. And it is expected he will walk the beat like any other officer. David Williams, head of personnel for West Midlands Police, said: "This officer is currently in his probationary period. He has carried out all the necessary requirements, including the physical tests, to become a fully fledged police officer. "We believe it is important that our workforce is made up of a true cross-section of the communities we serve." The idea of allowing visually impaired people and those missing parts of limbs to join the service was first mooted in 2000. But this provoked widespread concern among politicians and senior police officers who thought it would be a politically correct move that could put lives at risk. Former Conservative Home Affairs spokesman David Lidington said at the time: "I think there would quite rightly be great public disquiet about forcing the police to become less effective at the front line because of some politically correct notion. "Police officers' work can, and often does, involve actions upon which lives depend." David Rogers, formerly of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, also feared the move would damage the police service. He said: "I accept the idea of treating people on their merits, but I cannot sub-scribe to the idea of people with missing limbs walking the beat." West Midlands Police's equal opportunities policy stresses they will employ any disabled person who meets the essential job requirements. The policy states: "West Midlands Police has a positive equal opportunities policy to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly." The force has been pioneering in its attempt to employ more disabled people. In February, it took on 17 more disabled members of staff to join 80 others previously recruited. The new staff all have disabilities including hearing impairment, Aspergers Syndrome and learning disabilities. The Shaw Trust, a charity which helps disabled people into work, helped place the 17 new police recruits. And last night Sandy Coulbourn, of the Shaw Trust, praised West Midlands Police for the appointment of the one-legged cop. She said: "West Midlands Police are providing opportunities on the basis of people's ability to do the job, which is a pleasure to see and be involved in. "This positive approach to employing disabled people is something every organisation should embrace." | 
