Tiverton is Home to Britain's Smallest Policeman - FACT!

TIVERTON can now boast the smallest bobby on the beat.

He has heard all the jokes of course ‑ the short arm of the law is

probably the most common insult the wits and drunks enjoy slinging his

way.

But PC Robin Port, believed to be Britain's smallest

policeman, insisted today that what he lacked in height he made up in

fitness and strength.

His height comes at an advantage, when the 5ft constable said he was able to catch big criminals by tacking their legs.

For

years most forces in Britain stipulated that male officers had to be

close to 6ft. Forces gradually relaxed their restrictions and there are

now no minimum height requirements.

Former soldier Port, 29, joined Devon and Cornwall Police last year and in his first month on the beat made 17 arrests.

At

a media briefing today Port said: "When it comes to jokes about being

short I have heard them all before. I've heard the odd comment from the

public but most of them come from people who are drunk and incoherent.

"I

have learned that if people want to make an offensive comment towards a

police officer they will find something to pick on, be it too short,

too tall or having ginger hair or glasses.

"I am very confident I

can hold my own. I have martial arts training so I don't see myself as

more at risk than any other police officer. I've got quite a thick skin

which is a requirement in this job. The uniform still carries with it a

lot of authority. In a situation where I might be faced with a huge,

7ft bloke, their size also makes them vulnerable as I could sweep their

legs out."

Port, based in Tiverton, Devon, said: "Of the arrests

I have made there have been people of all sizes and shapes. This has

not once posed an issue."

He praised the force for taking him on.

"I like to think my presence in the force says a lot about the police

policy on discrimination, in that a person is recruited on their merit

and not to fulfil quotas."

Port served with the army in Oman,

Kuwait, Iraq and Northern Ireland. "I wanted to serve society," he

said. "I was able to serve the country by joining the army, whereas

being a police officer is a chance to serve the community."