Age discrimination reared its head when a Yorkshire Police chief shared a picture of two new student officers on social media.
These recruits were part of the government's initiative, the Police Uplift program, aiming to attract 20,000 fresh officers. However, what should have been a positive post turned into a display of age-related trolling.
The West Yorkshire police chief found herself forced to address the hurtful responses that followed her post. While some users expressed support, others chose to focus on the recruits' youthful appearance, making jokes about their age despite both being over 18. Supt Brear expressed her disappointment, emphasizing that both officers had successfully passed the rigorous recruitment process and demonstrated their skills and abilities.
Age discriminatory trolling
In an effort to bring perspective to the situation, some veteran police officers and servicemen shared pictures of their own early days in service, highlighting how young they looked back then.
One officer recounted their own experience, acknowledging that looking young didn't hinder their growth and development in the profession.
Chief Brear defends Officers
Fortunately, not everyone participated in the mockery. Some users stood up for the recruits, reminding others of the significant contributions young men and women have made in defending the country, citing their roles in historical conflicts like the two world wars.
Veteran Officers share their own experiences
One commenter praised the recruits' courage in pursuing a career in law enforcement and acknowledged the respect they deserved for their career.
Another individual, who happened to know one of the new officers from school, expressed dismay at the disrespectful comments, asserting that Noah genuinely cared about making a positive impact and helping the system. They urged people to stop engaging in age discrimination and to channel their energy into constructive efforts to support the system.
As a schoolmate of one of the new student officers added their voice to the conversation, condemning the disrespectful comments and expressing support for Noah's genuine passion for making a positive change..