THE Met Police is Britain’s biggest force — ordering 5,199 trousers with waists of 40 inches or more last year.

       It included 38 pairs with a 50ins waist and six of 52ins for patrol officers.

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       The Met ordered 5,199 trousers with waists of 40 inches or more last year Credit: Rex Features

       The Met also took 100 sets of cycling trousers with a waist of more than 40ins.

       Together, six of the largest forces ordered a total of almost 9,000 pairs last year where the waist was 40ins or more.

       Medical experts say a man’s waist measurement should be no more than half their height, so 36ins for a six-footer.

       But West Midlands Police ordered 1,872 pairs at 40ins or more — and one with a 56ins waist.

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       Greater Manchester Police said it ordered 633 pairs of trousers that were either 40ins or more — including three at 50ins.

       Merseyside Police received 267 sets of trousers between 40ins and 50ins.

       In Northumbria, there were ten sets of trousers with a waist of 50ins — and six for women officers in a 47ins waist.

       The figures emerged following Freedom of Information requests.

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       Tam Fry, Chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “For at least ten years many police forces rejected annual fitness tests and these measurements are a testament to that.”

       The National Police Chiefs’ Council said it was not always possible to determine a person’s fitness by their waist size.

       The spokesman said: “Job Relate Fitness Testing will form part of the Police Officer application process and will continue throughout ones career at regular intervals.

       “Officers will undertake a running test known as a Multi Stage Shuttle Test also known as a Bleep Test to ensure they have adequate fitness levels to carry out their duties.”