Leading change in women's policing

Home Secretary Theresa May has highlighted police accountability and the under-representation of women in senior policing as priorities during a conference in Norfolk.

As the keynote speaker at this year's Senior Women In Policing (SWIP) conference, she reinforced the message that elected crime commissioners would enhance the police service while insisting that "they will not interfere with operational independence".

"There is a need for local accountability and that is why police authorities are being replaced," said Mrs May who was also speaking in her role as the minister for women and equalities. "We want to encourage a wide variety of candidates, including women and those from ethnic minorities and hope that it gets the public to become more involved in their neighbourhoods and take some responsibility."

Stressing the need to help women reach the higher ranks of the police service, she added: "We need to change the culture and the attitude that prevents women from being appointed to senior positions. Both the Government and ACPO need to make a concerted effort to come up with proposals to increase representation. To assist, we will be increasing paid maternity leave for police officers to 18 weeks."These are very challenging times. I won't pretend it will be easy, but it is necessary and I want to thank you."

Senior officers and police staff from across the UK gathered in Norwich on Monday 14 March for the annual conference which was hosted on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Women's Forum. The event centred on the themes of inspiration and leadership facing women in policing.

Suffolk's host, Deputy Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer, launched the conference with a networking evening before it moved on to a further two days of "thought-provoking" talks from an array of speakers, including former Essex chief constable and a current HMI, Roger Baker; President of the British Association of Women Policing, Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick from the Metropolitan Police and Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie from Police Service of Northern Ireland. Interspersed with leadership workshops, the 125 delegates were given an insight into the challenging times ahead for policing leaders.

DCC Cheer said: "It's a privilege to help lay on such a conference both personally and on behalf of Suffolk. Female senior and chief officers are under-represented in the service so it's important for those who have reached these positions to believe in themselves and the positive differences they can make.

"We aim to ensure they realise their goals and ambitions while also encouraging them to pass on their experience and knowledge to staff so that there remains a continuous cycle of dynamic leadership among a wide talent pool."

Delegates from command teams to specialist operations and from media to finance heard key themes focusing on the unique qualities that women can bring to leadership roles and the importance of all organisations and companies to recognise the diverse qualities present in their workforce, while encouraging development and progression.

HMI Roger Baker criticised some forces for failing to identify savings that could be found from collaboration despite being told in 2008 that a "financial tsunami was on its way". However, he also added that the UK "still has the best police service in the world".

Norfolk's Chief Constable Phil Gormley highlighted the successful, ongoing collaborative work being undertaken by his force and Suffolk Constabulary.

"At the beginning, one force felt threatened by the perceived take-over ambitions of the other," said Mr Gormley. "However, as time has developed and senior and chief officers communicated with each other the benefits have been easy to see and both forces are in agreement with what is being done, have dedicated resources to it and ensured there is leadership at all levels."

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick QPM reflected on the changing times in the police service and coping mechanisms through "bumpy times" while highlighting that five of the six Deputy Assistant Commissioner posts are currently filled by women.

She said: "I would urge people to get involved in women's support networks if you want to make change and difference. This conference was brilliant and just as good as the first one which I attended."
One delegate was Chief Insp Gill Wootton from Thames Valley Police. She said: "It's always good to meet other officers and learn lessons and experiences from them. This conference centred a lot on collaboration projects and so was very useful given the times we are in.

"Mrs Gillespie was particularly inspiring as she gave an insight into the challenges of the PSNI even in today's world."