Ellee Seymour

I’ve no idea how many women firearms officers we have in our police force at the moment. Very few, it may seem, because “macho” endurance tests prevent them from promotion into specialist units.

Cambs Chief Constable Julie Spence is president of the British Association for Women in Policing and has called for a change in “outdated” assessments of upper-body strength and the introduction of a fresh job-related selection process which checks a range of skills including mental and tactical ability.

Currently, the key test to get into most specialist teams is an endurance “bleep test”. That involves running between two points against the clock and a push-pull arm strength test. She said:

“If you want a firearms officer, can they shoot straight, are they tactically aware, will the community be put in danger with this individual?

“Do they have the right mental mindset to actually be using a gun? So if you answer all that, you then look at fitness as a developmental tool.”

How can we stamp out sexism from the police force? It is a subject close to the heart of Julie Spence. I’m sure it is only a matter of time before these outdated “macho” tests are replaced with more appropriate assessments. Let’s hope our first female Home Secretary Jacqui Smith offers her full support.

I thought I would try it out to give my diet a good start - detox for a month. My version means no alcohol or caffeine for a month. Starting today.

I have to make this commitment here to ensure I see it through. I have never taken such drastic measures before, but I need to lose a stone to fit into a smart new pink silk suit for a couple of forthcoming weddings.

I was going to try the Carol Vorderman 28-day detox, but this would mean abstaining from dairy products and wheat products too, and that is too much self-denial as I still want to enjoy cow’s milk with my morning porridge. I’m not sure I would have the will power to be that strict.

So far this morning I have sipped a mug of hot water with fresh lemon followed by some steaming green tea. Can I really see this through for a month? I will let you know with weekly updates, and I will be truthful.

Have you tried to detox? Is it going to be agony? How do I survive those stressy moments without caffeine and wine? And what about the parties I am going to as well this month, can a party girl really survive a month on soda water and lime?