Great news:

Drunk women who stagger about in high heels are to be protected – at public expense – from twisting their ankles.

They will be handed flip-flops to wear by police outside nightclubs as they wend their way home.

[…] the potential recipients seemed quite pleased yesterday at the prospect of a free pair of flops.

Danielle Bolton, 19, who was out in Torquay, said: ‘My heels hurt me at the end of the night so I tend to take them off.

‘It’s a hell of a lot easier to walk with flip-flops than high heels.’

Leanne Thomas, 21, added: ‘I go out clubbing at the harbourside most weekends and I usually walk home barefooted because my heels hurt. I think it’s a great idea.’

Ah, liberation.

[h/t Mark Steyn]

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Rebecca adds: In a country where people pull their own teeth with pliers rather than wait years for dental care (imagine going to a dentist where dental insurance is run like health insurance in Canada) and there is a waiting list to get into an ER waiting room, because in order to meet performance targets, patients aren’t triaged until admin knows they’ll be treated quickly, it’s good to know that chronic barflies will find it easier to stagger home. If it weren’t for government flip-flops they might develop some calluses which would ruin their round heels. A most excellent use of the British police.