KENT NEWS: To mark today's International Women’s Day Kent Police have pointed to the huge strides it has taken to improve their employment rates of women.
As of last month, Kent Police employed 1,036 female police officers and 1,984 female staff - in March, 1978, the force had employed 230 female police officers.
Chief Constable Michael Fuller said: “A modern responsive police service needs a range of opinions and experience that only a balanced workforce can provide. We aim to ensure our policies and service meet the needs of all who live, work and visit Kent.
“Since 1978, we have increased the number of female officers by more than 350 per cent. Women work across a variety of roles in the force, such as forensics, emergency response, firearms and investigation.”
The first female officers weren’t seen on Kent’s streets until 1916, and two policewomen were appointed in Folkestone to deal with an increase in prostitutes as World War One servicemen gathered there, waiting to deploy to Europe.
By 1944, Denis de Vitre became Kent’s first female inspector and by 1946, Kent had a sergeant and 17 police constables who were female. In 1951 the first female detective was appointed.
Women usually left the force when they started their families. This changed in 1975 when the Sex Discrimination Act meant the Women’s Police Service ceased as a separate body and all police roles were open to women.
Uniform was also an issue, but in the 1970s women were finally allowed to wear trousers, but only on night duty. Women needed permission to travel to work wearing trousers.
Women were eventually allowed to work past 2am on shifts and, by the 1990s, receiving equal pay.
Today, Kent Police’s female officers include one chief superintendent, five superintendents, 11 chief inspectors, 33 inspectors, 105 sergeants, 814 PCs and 67 student constables. The highest-ranking officer is Det Chief Supt Debbie Doe.
Supt Ali Roden, deputy Area Commander North Kent is a strong advocate for diversity-related issues and is the current Chair of the Kent Network of Women, an internal support group for all female members of staff. Last year she received the prestigious Mary Jo Blahowski Leadership Award from the International Association of Women Police.
She said: “After 22 years service, I can honestly say that policing as a career choice is a fantastic one and all jobs are open to women. I will certainly look back on winning the Mary Jo Blahowski Leadership Award as a career defining moment.
“The uniform was an issue and the changes were much welcomed. I no longer need an Inspector’s permission to wear trousers if it’s cold or snowing. I can’t tell you how difficult it was to chase criminals and climb fences while wearing a skirt. Also, we now have flexible working policies, maternity and paternity provision, which benefits all staff.”
Det Supt Anne Brittain, Head of forensic science said: “Life in the police force used to be very different for women. Couples could not live together and you had to have permission to get married and buy a house.
“From the outset I decided that if I was a police officer then I should do the same job as my male colleagues and not hide behind being a woman. While women are not as physically strong as men, they do have other advantages.
"As men did not generally hit female police officers, I was able to help diffuse incidents and negotiate more easily than my male colleagues.”
Vicki Harrington is the head of Corporate Development and the most senior female member of civilian police staff.
She said: “Working at Kent Police is a really good environment to work in.
“I have not found it difficult being a woman working in the police service and I think gender is irrelevant. I think people have to demonstrate that they have the ability to do the job and can add value as an individual and as part of a team.
Det Insp Tara Mitchell is a career progression Inspector at Kent Police College.
The mother of two said: “I’ve demonstrated that you can have a career and a family.
"I was the first part-time detective inspector to have an operational role and I helped pave the way in showing how part-time working can be successful if the right attitudes are adopted on both sides.
“This is the first time that someone working within the police service and on the development scheme wants to be promoted and also embrace part-time working.
"It’s a new path that is being trod, not just for Kent but all police forces and this is the key to progression of women professionally.”
POSTED: 07/03/2010 10:00:00
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