Female police officers will be allowed to "pee while on duty"

Following a successful trial Cambridgeshire police is considering rolling out the items to its 380 women officers at a cost of around £2,850, despite feedback indicating that there is ''no great need for them''.

Shewees are £7.50 plastic funnels, available in five colours including bright pink and 'desert sand', which allow women to relieve themselves while standing at a urinal like a man. The kit is the brainchild of Samantha Fountain, 28, who failed to secure any investment for her idea when she appeared on the television show Dragons Den during the 2005 series.

The gadget has since proved a hit with celebritiess and festival goers who want to avoid sitting down to relieve themselves in dirty toilets. But the need for female police officers to use the items on duty was questioned by critics who said they should ''use a normal toilet like everybody else''.

Geoffrey Heathcock, a Lib Dem county councillor in Cambridgeshire, said: ''This frankly beggars belief. Surely to goodness when an officer needs a comfort break they take it using conventional facilities.''

Emma Boon, Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, branded the move as ''farcical''.

She said: ''This is a unnecessary expense and a waste of taxpayers' money. Many women work in jobs which mean they are constantly out and about but they do not need a Shewee to answer calls of nature.''

Ms Fountain defended the Shewee and said she was convinced her product would be a ''great hit'' with women officers.

She said: ''Cambridgeshire police is one of the first forces in the country to trial Shewee. It allows women to urinate while standing and without removing clothes.

''Women can stand at public toilets and avoid unhygienic seats, or use a convenient container when a toilet is unavailable. It is easy to use, discreet, reusable, lightweight and fits into a pocket. We're sure it's going to be a great hit with the women of Cambridgeshire police.''

Despite her Dragons Den appearance, which left the usually straight faced multi-millionaire investors in fits of laughter, Ms Fountain claims one Shewee is now sold every 10 minutes. The Cambridgeshire police trial was revealed following a Freedom of Information Act request on equipment tested by the force since 2007. Documents reveal that the force is ''still considering'' rolling out the Shewees to all WPCs.

Officers also tested handcuff holders, which they found surplus to requirements. Hijabs for Muslim officers, cycle helmets, jackets and wicking shirts which help keep officers cool, were all introduced after trial.

Shewees have been used by polar explorer Ann Daniels and Bonita Norris, the youngest British woman to climb Everest. Celebrities Fearne Cotton and Alesha Dixon also used Shewees when they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Cambridgeshire police declined to comment on the issue.


/Telegraph.co.uk/