Hampshire Police Authority

26 November, 2002

British Association of Women Police Professional Development Day held in Chester

on 7 and 8 October, 2002

Report of Mrs. C. Barratt

1. Superintendent Ann Wakefield and I attended this conference. After dinner on the Monday evening, Jackie Malton, a writer for "The Bill", and Roberta Taylor, who acts as an Inspector in the same series, gave a presentation on the role of women police officers in drama. Although this was interesting, many of the officers present felt it portrayed a false picture of life as a woman police officer.

2. The following morning there was an update by Julie Spence, the President of the Association and the Assistant Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police, on "The Gender Agenda", an initiative on diversity.

3. DCI Ellie Bird of West Midlands Police gave a presentation and led discussion on police and the media, which was thought provoking and encouraging to the officers present. After lunch a presentation on bullying and harassment in the workplace was hard hitting and disturbing.

4. Although I have doubts about the plethora of specialist groups, which I feel should come under the Police Federation (Black Police Association. Lesbian and Gay Association and now the British Association of Women Police), it is obvious that each group feels that its specialist interest is not covered by the Federation. The women officers find encouragement in lobbying for things as a specialist group. For example, I was unaware that until recently, uniform trousers and shorts were designed for men and today coats are still cut for men - to get the correct body size, women must turn up the sleeves at least once if not twice.

5. Only 17 police authorities were represented and the presence of a Hampshire Police Authority representative was much appreciated by the Hampshire women officers.

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