The British Policewoman: Her Story 2nd Edition

Joan Lock
Works of: Non-fiction

Updated for the 21st century the complex and fascinating history of the formation of the British women police this edition captures the drama and intrigue and introduces the involvement of famous characters: Winston Churchill, Lady Astor, Adolph Hitler and the irascible magistrate and sworn enemy of women police – Frederick Mead. Although now being put ‘on an official footing’ the battles for the women’s full acceptance continued and as usual varied from place to place according to the attitudes of the male senior officers and those officers working in the more macho specialities.
The resignation on marriage rule was dropped (although Scotland kept theirs until 1968) and the Police Federation, with a little pushing from the Home Office, agreed to represent women. There was more notice of women police on television dramas and in 1995 the first woman chief Constable, Pauline Clare, took charge of Lancashire Constabulary.

‘There will be no rollback on equality’ promised the new minster for Equalities in 2010 before she was moved on to other things and the battle continued although good use was put to senior women officers who were now often witnessed apologising on television for a force error.

Well illustratedwwELL