No controversy re the 'oversized head,' then? :)

Rikd


--- In BromleyNWA@..., <dave@...> wrote:
>
> Police chiefs will spend £15,000 creating "ethnically diverse"
mascots after
> one of their officers criticised an existing model for being too
male and
> white.
>
> PCSO Steve, a uniformed mascot complete with over-sized head and
equipment,
> was created by the Metropolitan Police for visits to primary
schools.
>
> But one of the force's sergeants slammed the character for failing
to
> represent the capital's communities.
>
> He said the figure, which is white with blue eyes and blond hair,
risks
> leaving Asian and women officers "isolated".
>
> The comments sparked a public row with some claiming the criticism
was
> taking political correctness too far.
>
> Now senior officers said they will invest £15,000 in the design and
> production of three new characters.
>
> In a written response to questions from the London Assembly, Sir
Ian Blair
> said staff from the force's diversity unit were brought in to help
create
> the costumes.
>
> He said: "These characters will be more representative of London's
> population and the diverse range of police personnel.
>
> "The choice of characters will allow the concept of a Safer
Neighbourhoods
> team to be presented to young children as well as delivering an
important
> message about the different roles of PCSOs and constables."
>
> The original PCSO Steve costume was based on real-life Sutton
borough police
> community support officer Stephen King.
>
> Paid for by a £1,000 sponsorship deal with a local plumbing firm,
the
> character proved a huge hit at schools and other public events.
>
> But it attracted criticism from one sergeant who claimed an Asian
colleague
> could not wear the costume at an event because it has a short-
sleeved shirt.
>
> In a letter to police in-house magazine The Job published today,
one officer
> said the row could damage relations between the police and the
public.
>
> Pc Geoff Parker, who works in Islington, said: "One of the things
that is
> damaging our job and our relations with the community is this
constant
> overbearing political correctness.
>
> "We seem to be taking the issue to the extreme, and pandering to
every whim
> and gripe. We need to take a sensible approach to this and stop
> over-reacting."
>
> The project has now been renamed "Police Pals" and police officer
versions
> of the costumes will also be made.
>
> The new costumes, expected to be ready early next year, include a
woman
> PCSO, named Sunita, and a man and a woman police constable.
>
> The £15,000 bill includes £600 in design costs and £14,400 for the
creation
> of four suits for each of the three characters.