NCJ Number
203684
Date Published
2003
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews the history of women in policing as well as the policing of and for women in Great Britain.
Abstract
Women's entry into policing in Great Britain stemmed from the determination of a number of women (and some men) to chaperon female and juvenile victims and offenders, to control the disreputable behaviors of women, and generally to promote the moral reform of society. These women did not, however, alter the police organization in significant ways. Despite formal and informal expansion of their roles in policing during World War II, women did not perform the full range of police duties, were paid only about 90 percent of male pay, were subject to recruitment quotas, and were still working in a distinct and separate sphere of policing. British police forces were integrated rapidly in the 1970's when, despite strong resistance, the Labour Government decided that the police should not be exempted from sex discrimination legislation. The impact of this policy has increased the number of women in policing, their deployment in more areas of policing, and in promotion. Four themes are prominent in the three decades since integration was enforced: models of equality, coming to terms with police culture, career issues, and new agendas. Each of these themes is discussed in the chapter. The concluding section of the chapter discusses how the integration of women into policing has influenced policing of and for women. This section focuses on new policing responses to crimes against women and children, notably in relation to the offenses of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. 65 references