He could not join the Nottingham police force, which then had a minimum height requirement of 6ft. He joined the Metropolitan police, which took men at 5ft 8in. He was still too short to be a uniformed officer, so he was used in disguise. His impersonations included a vicar, painter, racing cyclist, chauffeur, road-sweeper, milkman, and delivery boy. Throughout his early career in the Met he continued to box.