A would-be police officer whose application was rejected because he is white and heterosexual is finally being allowed to become a copper after a force accepted it had discriminated against him.
Matthew Furlong, 25, from Frodsham, will join Cheshire Police, following in the footsteps of his detective father Liam, 52.
The graduate, who has a degree in particle physics and cosmology from Lancaster University, had shone in his application and interview.
But he was turned down by Cheshire Police.
His father, a serving Cheshire Police officer, complained and an employment tribunal ruled earlier this year that Furlong jnr had been discriminated against on the grounds of sexual orientation, race and sex.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
In a statement following the tribunal’s ruling in February, Matthew Furlong said: “My dad has served more than 20 years with Cheshire Police and I had always wanted to follow in his footsteps, ever since school. Not just anywhere but in the place I grew up.
"The people who interviewed me said it was refreshing to meet someone so well-prepared and that I couldn’t have done more. I was on cloud nine.
"When I found out what had happened, I was shocked. I really didn’t know what to make of it because I automatically assumed a body like the police couldn’t possibly have made that kind of mistake.
"It has completely shattered my confidence in the police force recruitment system.
"The irony of the whole thing is that throughout the whole process I was required to demonstrate my honesty and integrity and they have completely undermined that.
"Had I lied on my interview form and said I was bisexual, for instance, there’s a strong possibility I would be working for Cheshire Police now based on a lie.
>this isn't even my final form, cuckistan
