A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Though only 21% of the total police force in England and Wales were female at the last count, the number of women at all levels is rapidly increasing. Morwenna Coniam reports.

The police force is keen to redress the gender imbalance and is aware not only of women’s equal, but also their unique qualities. Changes recommended by the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) in the ‘Gender Agenda’ (2001) have been embraced by the Home Office and constabularies nationwide have been making changes to their training procedures, recruitment strategies and contracts, as well as conducting more research in their local areas in order to achieve its long-term objectives. Strategies have included giving additional training for the mandatory fitness tests, setting up childcare schemes, introducing more flexible working hours and removing the height restrictions for entry.

There’s ample opportunity for graduates to progress quickly, a good degree being an invaluable tool, recognized in selecting candidates for the high potential development scheme (HPD). After spending the compulsory two years as a probation officer, those on HPD are able to progress much faster to higher-ranking positions and move into specialist areas. They are also encouraged to pursue additional higher education whilst working for the force.

Heather Valentine is a Chief Superintendent and Borough Commander for Hammersmith and Fulham. She spoke to Number Ten about her experiences over her career so far:

“I joined the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 1979 and as everyone does, did two years probation on the beat in uniform on a response team. I progressed reasonably quickly through the ranks of both uniform and CID. I worked as a surveillance officer and as a Detective Constable in busy inner London areas, and back in the early 1980s, was often the only woman on my team or squad. This was never a problem to me and I actually found that I was looked after and very well supported by my male colleagues, although at that time sexism was always just below the surface.

I was promoted to Sergeant and Inspector fairly quickly (within 10 years of joining) and had some superb roles; Sector Inspector at Kensington, Detective Inspector in charge of the Brent Child Protection Team, and as a staff officer to a senior Office at New Scotland Yard. I have never felt that there was any opportunity that was not open to me and continued up through the ranks, leading the Lawrence Review Team, Operations at Ealing and then as Head of training on the way to my current role.

I am now in charge of all of the policing response in my borough and work closely with the Local Authority Chief Executive to improve community safety and reduce crime. I am in charge of 650 staff and am responsible for a budget of around £24 million. I’m one of only three women borough commanders although there are other women at my rank within other disciplines within the MPS.

The opportunities for women are immense - I have colleagues in the mounted branch, air support, traffic and CID. Women head boroughs, CID teams, surveillance, and hostage negotiation and kidnap response, and one colleague is the first and very talented head of the Flying Squad. Two women who are Commanders (Association of Chief Police Officers) have recently been selected for promotion to Deputy Assistant Commissioner (Deputy Chief Constable outside of London).

In my experience, women can sometimes be the very people who hold themselves back by not recognizing their own true potential. There truly is no role a woman can’t perform if she has the right skills, approach and outlook. As Head of Training for the Met for two years, I was really conscious of the need to make sure that women did not feel intimidated or put off by the initial training they undergo and the training they receive later in their careers. We’ve gone a long way in addressing the needs of parents, those with caring responsibilities for families or those who need flexible working patterns. This is the same for both men and women but it does disproportionably affect women more. As a single mother, I can vouch for the difficulties, but also the support available.

Policing is still mainly a male outfit but the work isn’t and that’s what’s important. Crime affects everyone and women bring some unique skills to the ever-growing challenge of keeping communities safe, whether that be from terrorism or anti-social behavior.”

PC Debbie Taylor is a police officer in Hammersmith Police Station and has recently taken a career break:

“After just over two years working in 999 response, I opted to take a career break to travel the world. The Met are very supportive of career breaks to go travelling with the aim to allow employees to balance your personal and working life. I took advantage of this and went away for eight months (you’re allowed 12), recently coming back to my previous job in Hammersmith. It was fantastic to know I could go away for so long and yet have the security of employment, in a job I enjoyed, when I returned.

Now that I’m back, I feel refreshed and am looking forward to continuing my career with the police. There are so many job opportunities that it’s hard to make a decision about what to do next, but at least I know that I’ll be able to find a role that challenges me and that I enjoy. As a career option, I know I’ve made the right choice; yesterday I attended a road traffic accident, helped search for a missing person and arrested a shoplifter – you certainly don’t get to do that in a 9 ‘til 5!’

Tara Oram graduated from the University of Leeds and began training in 2004. She has now been a police officer for four years.

‘I have enjoyed being a police officer immensely and I am terribly proud of the job I do. I have never felt that female officers are treated any differently. They are encouraged and given exactly the same opportunities as male officers, and specialised jobs and promotion are given purely on merit, ability and experience.

The 18 weeks training was hard work, although I strongly believe that university stood me in great stead for the pressures. It was made clear from the outset that sexism would not be tolerated and would be dealt with very seriously. The expectations and assessment were exactly the same for both male and female officers and rightly so.

I have only once received a negative comment from a male officer and that was during my Level Two riot training. Officers are required to wear full riot uniform, carrying a long shield and complete 500 metres in two minutes 40 seconds. I was told by a sergeant that I would not be able to complete the run within the time as I was too small and would not be able to manage the shield. This made me even more determined to pass and it gave me great pleasure going back into work and telling him that I had. Conversely, I had a good deal of positive encouragement and support from male officers. A few officers and a sergeant even took me to a sports ground and practiced the run with me, which gave me the confidence that I needed. If you have the right attitude and ambition in the police service it offers a vast amount of job opportunities for female officers.

Once I passed out of Hendon I joined Fulham Police station and all the team welcomed me. To be honest I was concerned about how other officers would perceive me, as I am 5ft 2inch and only weigh 7 stone. I didn’t want officers to think of me as a liability when they were posted with me in a response car. I was determined to prove myself and did not shy away from hard work and confrontation.

My first confrontational incident was when I was called to a nightclub where a fight was in progress. I was the first on scene and tried to break up a fight between a doorman and a rugby player. I received a black eye from the incident, but more importantly, gained the respect from other officers because I was willing to get involved and not let my size or sex get in the way. On other occasions I have pursued and detained suspects on my own which has been regarded positively. I appreciate that my job can be dangerous, but it won’t deter me from giving 100 per cent and I am more than happy to patrol at night on my own.

We have frequent officer safety training and I know that if there were ever a problem another officer would be with me in minutes. You just have to use your common sense and not to put yourself at unnecessary risk or danger.

Through my experience I believe that being a female in the police service can be an advantage, as when you are dealing with the public, they don’t perceive you as a threat and females can be very good at defusing a potentially hostile situation. Obviously the working hours can be unsociable, but I have never found this to be a real problem, my husband, friends and family all being very understanding. Although the police service only offers three months’ maternity leave, they are extremely flexible with working hours when you wish to return.”