Stephen tested the new equipment while on work experience at the Met

Stephen Menary, 16, was badly injured when he picked up a bomb disguised as a torch outside the Territorial Army barracks in White City, west London in February 2001.

Since then he has completed a two-week work experience placement at the Met, where he helped test specialist software for its new Disability Concept Office.

He expressed an interest in joining the Met as he opened the new office in central London on Wednesday.

He said: "With the Met I do not think you would be doing the same job every day.

"I would like to join at some point but I have to do my exams first."

Zoom text

The office has been set up in line with the Disability Discrimination Act to improve services for disabled staff, or those who may become disabled.

Its hi-tech equipment includes one-handed keyboards which can be used by cerebral palsy sufferers, voice-activated software, zoom text which uses bigger print and screens and jaws, a text reader for people with restricted sight.

Stephen's mother Carol, of East Acton, west London, said: "He always wanted to be in the Army, civil service or the police because he feels they do a good job.

"New technology like this is good because it opens doors and he can apply for things like other people."