Metropolitan Police in the U.K. have been using a mascot known as PCSO Steve to visit primary schools and to interact with children for years.  But thanks to a complaint from a sergeant on the force that the white, blond haired and blue-eyed mascot didn’t represent the community and risked isolating Asian and women officers.

The original costume which was based on Sutton borough police community support officer Stephen King and paid for by a $2,000 deal with a local plumbing firm will now be renamed “Police Pals” consisting of three costumes that are more racially diverse including a female officer named Sunita and will cost close to $30,000.

Not all the police officers are on board with the change as they fear that battle over the mascot change could actually harm relations with the public and that it was taking political correctness too far.

They are probably right as there hadn’t been any complaints about the mascot prior to the sergeant’s remarks which then forced the powers that be to act lest they look like they didn’t care about diversity.  And they couldn’t afford that.

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