They said you must be joking, where did you get those shoes?

Your tax dollars at work. Well, fortunately not yours unless you're visiting this site from the U.K. From the Daily Mail:

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 scheme is part of a £30,000 drive by police and councillors to prevent 'alcohol-related harm'.

It has been prompted by fears that women wearing stilettos or similar footwear could tumble over.

Officials also claim that female revellers are at risk of cutting the soles of their feet by walking barefoot.

The flip-flops will be given to anyone whose footwear is 'uncomfortable, inappropriate or soiled' and will be paid for with a Home Office grant.

The scheme is to begin next month in the centre of Torquay, Devon, a popular destination for hen and stag parties. It will be run by Safer Communities Torbay, a partnership between police, Torbay Council and the Local Education Authority.

Police officers will carry bags of coloured flip-flops on their rounds and will hand them to those who look unsteady on their feet.

Publicly-subsidized practical footwear: just the thing for your hen and stag party! I'm thinking this program won't be coming to the Warehouse District, Rush Street or College Avenue any time soon; at least until May or so when the whether is nicer. Handing out Sorels would get pretty expensive.

Apparently prospective officers will need to add an internship at Famous Footwear to their coursework at the Police Academy. To serve, protect and provide a proper fitting. Given our continuing slide into the nanny state this does seem, well, fitting.

(H/T: The Corner)