The country of Napoleon
imposed minimum height requirements for police centuries ago, raising them over
the decades as the average size of Frenchmen rose, but the rules have come to
be seen as discriminatory.
"Entry into all active
categories of the national police is no longer reserved for candidates whose
height exceeds 1.60m," the French Labor Ministry said in a statement.
"From now on the
conditions of entry will be linked exclusively to the ability to carry out the
relevant duties."
According to the national
statistics office INSEE, the average French man stands 1.75 meters and the
average woman 1.63 meters, compared to 1.66 meters and 1.54 meters,
respectively, in 1900.
French President Nicolas
Sarkozy's height is estimated at around 1.65 meters, roughly the same size as
French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Police union Alliance Police
Nationale welcomed the move, saying the previous requirements had prevented
candidates who were "morally, physically and intellectually" capable
of working as police.
France has height
requirements for joining the military which remain in place.
