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| Britain | ||
| Scotland Yard advertises for 'gay, lesbian or transgender' bodyguards for the Queen | ||
| 2009-09-23 | ||
| You must be a hotshot with a weapon, have a nose for hidden danger and the ability to melt into the background. But that's not all you need to join the latest intake of the elite royal protection squad guarding the Queen. It also helps if you're lesbian, gay or transgender.
Police chiefs ordered the recruitment drive amid concerns that there are not enough officers from minority groups guarding the Queen. But critics accused the Met of bowing to political correctness.
The recruitment notice, which was posted internally within the Met, reads: 'Successful officers can expect to work at London palaces or Windsor Castle and officers are required to perform tours of duty in Scotland. 'Applications are particularly welcomed from women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and black and minority ethnic communities/people as these are under-represented-within SO14.' Successful candidates must be trained in firearms and will be expected to work 12-hour shifts. Former Metropolitan Police Commander John O'Connor condemned the advertisement. 'From a political correctness point of view, it's just window dressing,' the former Flying Squad officer said. 'These are terrible jobs which no one wants to do. What could be more soul-destroying than to sit in a rusty old sentry box for hours on end?' Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, West Yorkshire, said: 'I don't know whether the Royal Family are going to feel that much safer knowing there's a transgender outside protecting them. 'This is absolutely ludicrous. What's wrong with just employing the best for the job? 'I wonder what's the cost to the Metropolitan Police for all this equality and diversity nonsense? The money would be better spent putting more bobbies back on the beat.' There are around 30 vacancies in SO14, offering salaries between £28,605 and £41,208 depending on the experience of the officer. A Met spokesman said: 'We want to recruit the best people from London's many different communities. 'In units where particular groups are under represented, applicants are particularly encouraged from minority communities.' Formed in 1983, the Royal Protection Squad is an elite Scotland Yard unit which provides 24-hour security for the Royal Family. Around 400 SAS-trained officers, including uniformed officers and personal bodyguards, look after about 20 members of the Royal Family and their homes. | ||
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #6 D *** NG IT, I thought AL BUNDY, "NO MA'AM" MILITANT LEADER + US WOMENS SHOE SALESMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE' VOUS, had the worst job in the World?? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-09-23 22:24 |
| #5 SSSHhh we're all in hiding. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-09-23 21:55 |
| #4 As a straight, white male I'm beginning to feel like an endangered species. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2009-09-23 18:05 |
| #3 Won't it get confusing with two queens? |
| Posted by: ed 2009-09-23 10:08 |
| #2 Queen takes on a whole new role |
| Posted by: Oscar 2009-09-23 10:07 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2009-09-23 09:58 |